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Nougatine
- Nearest Transit:
-
59 St - Columbus Circle (1, 2, A, B, C, D)
57 St - 7 Av (N, Q, R)
66 St - Lincoln Center (1, 2)
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Dressy
- Price Range:
-
$$$
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- No
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch, Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Classy, Upscale
- Has TV:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
343 reviews for Nougatine
Review Highlights
"Jean Georges ought to be canonized a saint."
(in 115 reviews)
"the cooks made me love tuna tartare."
(in 78 reviews)
"The best $26 prix fixe lunch you'll find in NYC."
(in 26 reviews)
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343 reviews in English
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Review from Dreyfus W.
New York, NY
2/9/2012
Restaurant week menu? Or regular? Choosing which menu to eat from was quite the predicament last night. Both sides sounded appetizing however more in favor of the regular menu which had lobster burger, prosciutto wrapped pork chops, foie gras brulee, and fresh Maine lobster. As oppose to salmon and beef tenderloin. We opted for the RW menu for reasons unknown::: maybe cause our main purpose of going to RW is to take advantage of the RW menu?
We started out with seared gulf shrimp with butternut squash, ginger and basil and their market pear, peppered goat cheese with frisee salad vinaigrette. The cheese on the salad was a bit too peppery however when paired with the pear you can hardly taste the pepper. The shrimp was delicious in itself but when combined with the tangy, gingery butternut squash puree, it was a perfect match.
We followed the salad and shrimp with their slowly cooked salmon and braised carrots with olive black truffles & my medium rare beef tenderloin with garlic parsley and chili. Let me start off to say how kind the chili sauce was. It is not in any way harmful to your mouth but rather sweet and mild, went very well with the beef.
My experience at Nougatine had been a good one. Excellent service, warm and friendly front desk, and a very clean bathroom. However, if you're looking for an extensive RW menu, keep looking. -
Review from Daniel B.
Updated - 2/7/2012
Came here with two friends for the Restaurant Week menu. Service was wonderful and the space is great, but the food wasn't anything special. I had a pear & goat cheese salad for an appetizer, which really was just slices pear with goat cheese and too much pepper. Following that I had a salmon main plate, which was very well made and had some really tasty carrots to accompany it, but overall? Eh. The desserts (some kind of pinaeapple cake for me, a chocolate cake for my friends) were nice but again, nothing special.
I'd still come back here, especially in warmer weather when you can sit outside (they have a lovely outdoor area). But I was disappointed.2 Previous Reviews: Show all »
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6/26/2010
Came here again, this time for dinner. Sat on the terrace: brilliant. So darn pleasant. The… Read more »
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Review from David H.
Updated - 2/2/2012
I recently came back here for Restaurant Week and, I have to say, I walked away very disappointed. I want to point out before going any further that this review (and my previous one) relate only to their R/W menu and should not be associated with their seasonal a-la-carte menus.
In any case, I am of the opinion that when a Restaurant--especially one as esteemed as this Jean-Georges establishment--elects to participate in R/W, they should put in their best effort to impress. Unfortunately, this was not the case.
This was supposed to be the highlight of our R/W week--we made the reservations a month in advance. Upon showing up, we were met with the same polished, professional staff. The Nougatine dining room was unchanged, and we were seated promptly. Then things went downhill. The entire meal felt very rushed. Our waiter was not the most pleasant guy, and it felt as though he were trying to get us out of there as quickly as possible. There was little time in between courses--as soon as one plate was finished it was whisked away and replaced by the next course.
Our appetizer was amazing--the Tuna Tartare here is massive. I love tuna and was very satisfied by the amount I got. The avocado bedding was a nice touch and I was half full afterward. Some digestion time would've been nice, but our entrees came out almost immediately afterward.
I have never been so unimpressed with an entree at a prominently rated restaurant. The chicken came alone on a plate with a few pieces of asparagus. It was dry, tasteless, and overall unappetizing. I don't know who decided to feature this on the R/W menu, but I don't think Jean George himself would've eaten it if you paid him. If I had seen this as a backyard BBQ I would've passed over it in favor of a hot dog. In fact, if I weren't paying $35 for that stale piece of poultry, I probably would have asked for some honey mustard dip.
Halfway through the entrees, a waiter dropped a wineglass behind me and some broken shards of glass flew onto the table (one landed squarely in my hair). After that, any desire to finish the chicken evaporated.
For what it's worth, the other entree--the salmon--was delicious.
The desserts were also very good, including the chocolate cake which I am usually not a fan of.
My advice--skip R/W and just go for the seasonal a-la-carte. Better yet, go for lunch pre-fixe at Jean-Georges, it's roughly the same price and a helluva lot better.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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2/6/2010
We came here for an early dinner on Sunday before restaurant week began, so instead of the R/W menu… Read more »
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Review from Peter S.
Brooklyn, NY
2/2/2012
Restaurant Week is a time of year that allows those who could not normally afford dinner at a fancy restaurant to dine without breaking the bank. The real purpose of Restaurant Week is for restaurants to show off their skills at a reasonable price to attract future visits from those who can't regularly spend $150 on dinner.
While some restaurants fall down in regards to this definition offering varying (often bitter) service and run of the mill food, Nougatine truly embodies it, offering top notch quality prepared with a delicate hand, and service that is pretty much unbeatable.
Look away and your water glass will be refilled. Finish your bread and another piece will magically appear; it was that good. And the food.... oh the food. From the complimentary amuse bouche to the finale of petit fours and molten chocolate cake, everything here gave me the "oh my god this is amazing" feeling I would hope to find at a Jean Georges restaurant. The shrimp were cooked to perfection, the salmon was salmony without being fishy, and the flavors went together in a harmony most New York restaurants wish they could achieve.
It was one of the few restaurants I have dined at during Restaurant Week that I will certainly return to, and be happy to pay full price. If it's this good in the cheap seats, I can't wait to discover the real menu! -
Review from K D.
New York, NY
1/26/2012
Came here for a prixe-fixe dinner during Restaurant Week. Enjoyed it very much. We had made a reservation, and the hostess seated us promptly after showing us to the coat-check. Pretty intimate setting inside- not to loud, and not to quiet. The kitchen is kind of out in the open so that diners have a glimpse of the staff working. Our server was friendly, helpful, and made recommendations when requested. The wine list was pretty comprehensive, and the prix-fixe selections looked good. All three courses I ordered were delicious. On the salmon, though, the sauce was pretty sweet and syrupy in texture (overall a strange flavor). Probably would have opted for the dish sans the sauce if I were to order that dish again.
Yep, I'd surely come back here sometime if I'm in the area. -
Review from Kassy M.
Brooklyn, NY
1/22/2012 5 photos
Wow. Applaud-worthy from point of entry to departure. They took our coats at the front desk, even before entering the restaurant. Even with all of our shopping bags, scarves, etc, they were happy to check our belongings for us.
We came here for Restaurant Week Winter 2012 and I ordered the tuna tartare appetizer, salmon entree, and chocolate cake dessert. The tuna tartare was one of the most delicious things I've ever consumed. The raw tuna came on a bed of avocado, served in their special soy sauce. It kind of tasted like a tuna roll and ginger dressing mixed together, and it was phenomenal. They definitely served it with too much soy sauce, but I think I said "this is soooo good!" after each bite. My salmon entree and dessert were exceptional as well. They were pretty generous with the salmon, and the kale that came with it was just perfect. The dessert consisted of a small chocolate cake, accompanied by a scoop of vanilla ice cream on top of some crunchy chocolate pieces. It was the ideal ending to a more-than-satisfying meal. I left full, but not uncomfortably full.Listed in: again and again
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Review from Carole D.
Manhattan, NY
2/7/2012
Two of us had lunch at Nougatine during Restaurant week. Staff at the front desk were very cordial and offered to take our coats. The dining room is spacious with enough space between tables to make for an intimate experience. Granted, the RW offerings were rather limited but putting that aside, we both felt it was rather so-so. There was nothing especially off-putting about the food, but there was nothing surprising, inventive or particularly different either.
The only downside was service. Lots of wait staff but pretty ditzy. Never had the same server twice resulting in spotty attention, missed requests and a very long wait for the check (a pet peeve).
Final takeaway? A pleasant and forgettable experience. -
Review from Tiffany Y.
New York, NY
1/20/2012 1 Check-in Here
Restaurant Week Winter 2012
Came here for dinner Friday night with a party of 5. Our reservation was at 8:30pm and they seated our partial party until the last person arrived. Around 11pm, we were told that the regulars were requesting our table and then we knew it was our queue to leave.
I ordered the tuna tartare, chicken, and grapefruit parfait. Very, very well done. The meal was just the perfect amount of food for me (one of my friends told me he was still hungry). Another great one from restaurant week!
Believe the website says business casual. I wore jeans. Whoops.Listed in: Restaurant Week
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Review from Shamus K.
Morningside Heights, Manhattan, NY
1/25/2012
There are a lot of great restaurants in NYC. Nougatine isn't one of them. In fact, The meal I had there on Sunday, January 29, 2012 was one of the worst I've had in the city. I'm not one to slam places -- in fact, I initially wrote to the restaurant to convey my disappointment. They ignored the email. So I thought, "well, an experience this bad that isn't going to be taken seriously, particularly at a place that can cost $150+ per person, should be avoided." So, yelpers, consider yourself warned. Nougatine can be bad. Very bad.
We were a party for 2, seated at 8PM. I eat somewhat regularly at the Jean-Georges restaurants (lunch in the main dining room is a standby, dinner less often, but a few times year -- Perry St. more regularly, and off and on at other places around town and out of town). My dining companion eats with regularity at Spice Market. This was one of the most disappointing meals I've eaten at a restaurant in New York. I'd go so far to say that the food was bad. I used to work as a line cook at a high end restaurant in Philadelphia, and have cooked in and run a variety of kitchens (though that was some time ago; I now work in a different industry).
First, though, I must say that the staff were wonderful. Our server was attentive and responded to the fact that we couldn't eat our food. (Others who cleared our plates didn't ask why they were full, which was strange, because our appetizers and my dessert plates went back to the kitchen, almost untouched).
We ordered, initially, off the restaurant week menu. We both had the tuna. It was unbelievably salty. And I like my food salty -- no doubt more than is likely healthy. Neither me nor my companion could eat more than half the dish. The food went back to the kitchen -- not bussed by our waiter -- without comment or question. Next we had the salmon. It was an odd dish. The salmon was overcooked (we'd ask for it medium rare to rare, it came out well done). It was rather flavorless -- such is farmed salmon, I guess. But the lemon crust was terribly salty. And the chili glaze was sickeningly sweet -- like what you get out of those cheap chinese food packets that come with quick and dirty take-out. The greens were undercooked. We each ate a bite, and couldn't continue eating. Our waiter, thankfully noticed and was so kind to allow us to pick a new entree.
I had the pork chop. My companion had the lobster (we were happy to pay for any supplement for an entree we might enjoy, and did). Our waiter was apologetic and kind. The pork chop was fine. A little overcooked and the pork underflavored. But the mushrooms were terribly over-salted (it wasn't the prosciutto/pork -- it was just the mushrooms and the pan sauce they were in). They also had been poorly picked over. I stopped eating them after I had to pick a second inedible stem out of my mouth. The Lobster was mediocre. A little tough, and it was the one dish we had that was really under-seasoned (alhtough I think the butter with the bread was also unsalted, which made it a bit sweet and flat). It its price point, mediocre was really disappointing.
For dessert we had the chocolate cake and some kind of praeline dish. The cake was fine; the ice cream had far too much vanilla (but was nicely sweetened). The praeline was terrible. I could only eat the garnish. The rest remained untouched. I'm not that picky of an eater -- I'm a big guy, in fact, too big. So for me not to touch an appetizer, half my entree, or most of my dessert is a bad sign.
The amuse and the gelees at the end were the best part of the meal. And also the most interesting -- in general the compositions of each dish were incredibly basic and somewhat boring.
All in all we walked out of Nougatine having spent $325+ for two (after tax and tip). And the meal was one of the worst either of us had eaten in the city. Nothing made us sick -- so perhaps not the VERY worst! But we couldn't finish any of our dishes because of how they were prepared.
The dining hall was empty the night we went. Maybe it's because it was a Sunday and the Giants were playing. Or maybe it's because most of New York already knows what we found out tonight: that the kitchen is bad -- down right lazy, sloppy. And no one there seemed to care enough to do much about it. Trust me: don't go. -
Review from Carlos D.
Atlanta, GA
1/10/2012
I had somewhat high expectations for this place after my parents had raved about it and everything jean georges. Still, I had a hint of reservations given the fact that it sits at the bottom of a building which has the name "TRUMP" plastered all over it. Everything trump, in my mind, is an overdressed and overpriced glob of ... Something. Boy, was I right.
Let's start off with the service. Why were we kept waiting for 20 mins after we arrived on time for our reservation? I'm not entirely sure, but we weren't the only party waiting. After we were seated, we easily waited 20 minutes again for the waiter to come and take our order. In general, the waiters were not that attentive and not helpful. In general, i forgot the place had a waiting staff.
Which brings us to the food. With Michelin and other awards plaques the restaurant has hanging in the lobby (which are quite misleading- none of them are for this restaurant, but for the other JG), you'd expect the food to be like perfectly cooked unicorn meat marinated in awesome sauce. It wasn't. I ordered the fried calamari, and it was bad. It was way over seasoned, not crunchy enough, and lacking in edge. I've had way better elsewhere. I also felt that the plate seemed to have been sitting for a while before it was served, and there were parts of the calamari that seemed soggy, making it disgusting for a fried dish.
For the main course I had the lobster burger, as i thought I'd try something different. Wow. What a bad idea. Everything about it was just bad. The bun seemed like it was pulled from a whopper. The lobster was overly greasy, it was not pleasant to eat. There was nothing there to balance the flavors in the plate, all i tasted was grease. The mayo didn't help this flavor profile at all. The pickles were also pretty run of the mill, it seemed like they were bought at a supermarket. In all fairness, two other people in our party ordered the chicken entree, which was decent.
The desserts were OK, but then again there was something off about them. They were way too sweet. We had the apple tart and the chocolate cake. Nothing special about either. They served their christmas cake, compliments of the house, and unfortunately, that was the worst dessert of them all. I felt like we were eating the gingerbread man's sugary poop.
Unfortunately, i'd recommed that you skip this one. Maybe it was an isolated experience. Maybe this place is love it or hate it. For me, I didn't like it. It's not worth the time or money, especially with service as "meh" as this one. -
Review from joanne m.
New York, NY
1/7/2012
I asked the bf to take me out on a nice lunch, and he surprised me with Nougatine. Having eaten at Jean Georges, 3 months earlier for his birthday (had dinner) we knew the food would be just as good at Nougatine.
The food was great. The service was poor.
We couldn't pass up the deal and got the 3 course prix fixe for $32. Definitely a pricey lunch but one worth splurging on.
I had debated between several appetizers, but after looking at the regular menu on the side and comparing the prices, I chose to get the shrimp salad. Honestly, I was very disappointed as soon as I looked at the plate, as the food wasn't visually appealing. The only thing that I did say prior to eating was that there was a heap of salad. The warm champagne vinaigrette with the shrimp was absolutely heavenly, one of the best salads of my life. I'm not sure how the shrimp was cooked, but my bf and I felt that it was butter poached with a hint of truffles. Amazing. If I ever go to Nougatine again, which I do plan on doing in the future, I'll be sure to order that salad.
My bf got tuna tartar with a combination of ginger, chili, and soy. After eating the tuna ribbons at Jean Georges, we knew this dish was going to be good. It was just as good, but not as elaborately presented as the prior experience.
For the main course I got the chicken with mustard sauce. It was crispy and flavorful, but also had its dry spots. Served over some grains. The entree was on the small side, but it was lunch, can't really complain. Glad the mustard sauce was presented on the side of the dish, as I don't like mustard at all.
The bf got the red snapper served with zucchini ribbons/pasta. He loved the fish. Again, a light portion. No complaints from him.
For dessert we got the almond parfait and the warm chocolate cake. Can't complain. Both were sweet and just right. My bf didn't like the texture of the almond parfait as it was a tofu like mushy consistency. Served over a side of fresh fruit, I thoroughly enjoyed it.
I didn't mind it, in fact I finished both his dessert and my dessert. On to the service... I would have given the place 5 stars. I took it down a star for the service.
The front desk was very friendly, checking in with us every so often since we arrived early to our reservation. We had no issues with them whatsoever.
After being seated, our server presented us with our menus and barely looked at us. He didnt even ask us what we wanted to eat, rather he just stood there and waited for us to order our food. The only time he smiled was when he gave us the check. My bf and I thought it was comical but still was disappointed at the fact that he didn't attend to us very well.
Our reservation was at 145 and we didn't leave until past 4 o'clock. For a place known for business lunch, we didn't think the service would be so slow.
I agree with other reviews that there a lack of continuity in the service. It would be nicer to see the same waiter rather than have 4-5 different servers. If the food hadn't been so good, I would have complained how slow the food got to the table. They need to learn how to smile!
Service aside, the food was excellent. The total meal- tax and tip and one non alcoholic beverage, cost 90 bucks. For a place that pricey they need to definitely work on their hospitality. -
Review from J D.
Manhattan, NY
2/2/2012
A-OK, but not more than that. Nice atmosphere and interior, good view, edible food, but just that. (Disclaimer: we ordered from the restaurant week menu).
It was my first time at that restaurant, and the whole idea of restaurant week is to impress a client (or so I hear). It wasn't the case there. The food could be described as "I've had better", and considering the caliber of a place - it's not a conclusion you'd want to make. The desserts (chocolate cake and pineapple upside down cake) were OK, but nothing spectacular. Maybe their regular, a la carte menu is better. -
Review from Serena L.
Scotts Valley, CA
2/2/2012
Delicious! Absolutley the best food that has ever touched my lips. The food was absolutely perfect! Great for eating before seeing an opera or ballet performance at the lincoln center!
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Review from Joyce H.
1/28/2012 1 Check-in Here
Came here for restaurant week dinner and really enjoyed the entire experience. The service was friendly and excellent, very attentive throughout, from the hostess taking our coats at the front desk to waiters refilling waters and empty bread plates instantly without us asking. We chose the tuna tartare appetizers in a soy ginger sauce which came in a surprisingly huge portion. The tuna tartare was over a bed of chopped avocados, which complemented the tuna very well. Main course I chose chicken with hearts of palm. The chicken was unfortunately a tad on the dry side, which was disappointing (minus one star). Dessert was an amazing chocolate molten lava cake and vanilla gelato. The restaurant itself is beautiful, very elegantly designed with great lighting. I loved that the kitchen was open; it made me feel good to see that the kitchen was extremely clean and all the chefs took great pride and paid attention to great detail for each dish.
Had a great experience here in the beautiful Trump Towers. I will be back! -
Review from Anna L.
12/31/2011
We had a 11:45am reservation and it took them over half an hour to seat us. There were large crowds waiting; apparently we had to wait until the breakfast seating folks were done and left. We had the $32 lunch price fix which is a good deal. I enjoyed the crab cake appetizer, the chicken, and the warm chocolate cake (with the gooey center). The dishes were tasty; the chicken was very small (two one inch pieces) but it was good.. not dry at all..
Only complaint is there is only one ladies bathroom (one stall) which resulted in long waits for the bathroom. -
Review from Ina L.
Manhattan, NY
1/24/2012 1 Check-in Here
Jean Georges! You live up to the hype that comes with your name.
My best friend and I, instead of doing a quickie for Friday night dinner, spontaneously decided to treat ourselves to a nice meal after a grueling week. It was difficult getting a reservation since it was Restaurant Week, but we managed to grab one a few hours prior.
I loved how the receptionist takes your coats even before entering the restaurant. The restaurant's on the ground level of the Trump Towers, which takes away from the breathtaking view of the city that we could have had, had the restaurant been on a higher floor. We started off with our usual gin martinis, which were strong! Those older bartenders know exactly what we young folks enjoy.
We started off with the tuna tartare appetizer. It is served with a bed of avocado and an Asian-inspired soy/ginger sauce. It's a huge portion so I recommend sharing it with at least one other person. I wish there were a little more texture to the tartare but that's my personal preference.
For my main entree, I ordered the baked salmon, served with potato pure and swiss chard. The salmon is not your traditional steak because it is breaded in a lemon-infused crust which is complemented by a sweet and sweet yet citrus-ey sauce. I loved every bite but I could imagine it to become a little sickening for those who have low thresholds for tangy-ness. -
Review from Kelly G.
Brooklyn, NY
1/2/2012
My fiance and I took advantage of a rare weekday off and had lunch at Nougatine last week (having heard the prix fixe was a great deal for $32). We arrived for our 2:30 PM reservation, were seated and served two bloody marys promptly.
My fiance started with the near-ethereal shrimp salad (with avocado & champagne vinaigrette) and I had a decent frisee & goat cheese salad. Unfortunately, things went downhill from there. I was delivered the wrong entree, which was brusquely removed without comment until a half-hearted apology several minutes later. The entrees were fine but not special. Desserts were split: the Jean-Georges chocolate cake was straight-up delicious, but the poached pears with nougatine and (overly) salted caramel ice cream was limpid and boring.
My biggest disappointment here was the service. We did not have one consistent waiter, but rather 5-6 different people who presented themselves throughout the course of our meal. The check took forever, which is a special peeve of mine, but fitting for this disappointing experience. I'm hesitant to visit another JGV restaurant due to the discordant service and ordinary food. -
Review from Mel C.
Marin, CA
12/29/2011
Great service and very good food. However, the greeting that we received upon arrival was dour and unsmiling. Tends to knock off the edge. The food and wine service were professional and attentive. The food was excellent.
We received the same unfriendly salutation as we were leaving, punctuated by what can best be characterized as a "smart-ass" remark. Get a smile or get out. -
Review from Ben R.
New York, NY
Salmon sashimi to start organic chicken and warm chocolate cake to finish was superb.
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Review from gina T.
San Francisco, CA
1/20/2012
Next to Waverly Inn, my fav place in NYC besides Central Park;)
Wonderful white burgendy wines, and tuna tar tar! -
Review from Nicholas D.
Manhattan, NY
1/18/2012
Fantastic. This is one of the best restaurants I've ever been to and I've been to a lot. I've eaten here a number of times and every time it's a new and awesome experience. The service is stellar to boot.
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Review from Ronnie T.
Astoria, NY
1/17/2012
We went here for the winter restaurant week. The food is fine but the roasted chicken for entree is too dry. Also, as everyone else mentioned, the service was not that good. They forgot to give us forks when the entree was on the table and forgot about our drinks as well. In addition, they gave desserts to someone who ordered much later than us while we had waited for a long while. The manager promised us they would make up something but apparently we never see it happened. Ha! In conclusion, this restaurant is sort of "interesting". Think about it before you come for the fancy name.
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Review from Jeff S.
Updated - 10/26/2011 2 Check-ins Here
Has it been 7 months since I stopped by? Honestly, living a few blocks away, I really should be eating here much more often.
We decided to drop in last night for the prix fixe and I was once again blown away by the exquisite meal I got. I went with the tuna tartare, a slow cooked beef filet and my girl got the fried calamari and roasted cod with sauteed eggplanet. And let's not forget the amuse bouche duo of potato and Parmesan soup and fig and mozzarella.
The amuse bouche was great. I always love that they get you started with something small and immensely flavorful. It's an aspect of the meal that gets sadly overlooked at almost every restaurant.
I've ordered the tartate quite a few times and it always blows me away. Not only is the fish fresh and succulent, the marinade they serve it with has amazing depth; the subtle hints of ginger, chili, and soy are delightful. My steak was also stellar. It was served over a small creamy bed of whipped potatoes and along side roasted brussel sprouts. Both were simple, flavorful and delicious. As for the meat, I always thought quick cooking a steak at high heat was best, but these guys at the Nougatine have really got this slow cooking thing nailed down. It couldn't have been more perfect. They also crusted the steak with bacon and roasted garlic which was not listed as a component on the menu...so I was really pleasantly surprised when I started to dig in.
The Mrs. also loved her meal as well as her house made passionfruit-lime soda. I actually got quite a few tastes of the cod and calamari and both were quite good, though the calamari could have been served a few degrees hotter. Fried food is always best when piping hot.
To close out the meal, we got the marzipan cake and coffee. The cake was incredible, very delicate and flavorful, though the coffee was a bit average in my opinion. Luckily, coffee is one of the rare low points at the Nougatine.
All of this came to $102 for the both of us which is incredible value if you ask me. My three course prix fixe was just $38.
If you eat out in the city a lot, you'll know that it's easy to drop $100 on meals which are average at best. Here, you get world class food from a 3 star Michelin rated chef for the same price. I can't recommend the Nougatine enough. You must go check it out if you get the chance.Listed in: Best Places to Eat in New York
4 Previous Reviews: Show all »
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3/4/2011
How can I give the Nougatine anything less than 5 stars? We stopped by the other night and were… Read more »
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Review from Jetlagged S.
San Francisco, CA
10/1/2011
Wish we had been able to enjoy the fabulous food. We had a reservation for Christmas dinner at 5:30 on Christmas Day - anticipated plenty of time to have a special holiday dinner and then walk over to Lincoln Center for a 7:30 performance. It was our family holiday gift.
Unfortunately, we were kept waiting for 45 minutes after our 5:30 reservation and were finally seated at 6:15. Since the earliest dinner reservation was 5:30, I didn't understand the problem. Apparently Nougatine greedily packed in so many lunch customers that they were still eating. The lobby area was filling up with unappy people waiting for their dinner reservations - over an hour wait for later (than 5:30) reservations.
After being seated at 6:15, we couldn't take our time with the set menu since we had to be out of there by 7:15 to rush over to Lincoln Center. We asked what was quick so that we could eat and get out - although the a la carte food was good, no accommodation was made by the dining room captain (nary an offer of cocktail, coffee or dessert) despite our asking for an explanation of the poor reservation/seating service.
We will never patronize it again because of the utter disregard for the customer's time, especially for (what we thought would be) a memorable Christmas holiday experience. -
Review from Michael L.
New York, NY
10/27/2011 1 Check-in Here
Located in Columbus circle near the time warner center, this restaurant serves up some yummy food while providing some modern decor to go with it. Since it was our first time we wanted to try a little of everything so we went for the tasting menu which included the following:
1st course: tuna tartar avocado, spicy radish, ginger marinade
2nd: foie gras brulee, spiced fig jam and toasted brioche
3rd: slowly cooked salmon, with sauteed potatoes, black olive and passion fruit
4th: slowly cooked beef tenderloin, miso butter and roasted brussel sprouts
5th: dessert dish
Price: $78
Favorites included the foie gras brulee (perfectly cooked, flavors meshed well) and the salmon which was perfectly cooked as well and melted in your mouth.
Service was decent and staff was friendly. Having said that the food is good it isnt michelin good. I'll have to hit up the real jean georges next time if I want some of that. -
Review from Tricia L.
9/15/2011 9 photos
I had high hopes for this place, especially since this was the fanciest restaurant we tried on this visit to the Big Apple. Boy, was I disappointed.
We had a hard time finding the restaurant, as it doesn't exactly match up to the street numbers on Central Park West, and no one was picking up the phone line when I called, but it is located just inside the Trump Tower.
Our party of 3 was seated at a corner table close to the open kitchen. Our waiter was aloof and distant, as was his attentiveness. Our order was taken much after the party who sat down behind us, and bread was brought out way after theirs, and only after I asked about it.
The only positive part of the experience was the 3 course prix fixe for $28, which is a great value. I wasn't expecting my watermelon goat cheese salad to be exactly that, watermelon cubes with curls of goat cheese around it, but it was. A few flecks of peppercorn also adorned it; it was interesting and somewhat refreshing, but I wouldn't order it again. My skate entree was small, and there were just too many flavors going on with the bitterness and sourness of the peppers, eggplant underneath the fish, and sauce. I much rather would have preferred the fish and some plain veggies. Chocolate lava cake a la vanilla bean ice cream was dessert and definitely the best course.
Overall, service was excruciatingly slow, and the pace of the food was as well. I remember thinking, "how long does it take to prepare 3 salads?" Our wait for the first course was easily an hour.
I don't recommend it and not coming back. Adios. -
Review from Patricia M.
Darien, CT
1/25/2012
Excellent. Had lunch at the bar today - the food was out of this world. Hot out of the oven and fabulous service. Cannot wait to go back. With out the JG pricing of the big dining room. Yum.
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Review from John G.
Hoboken, NJ
11/1/2011
Had the dinner tasting menu with the wine pairing.
The good:
Tuna Tartare - perhaps the best I've had
Foie Gras Brulee - foie gras itself was great
Salmon over spinach
DESSERT TRAY!!!
All of the wines but the dessert wine (but I don't really like dessert wines)
The bad:
the bottom portion of the foie gras
the jalapeno under the salmon (totally removeable)
the gameyness of the beef tenderloin
Overall an excellent experience. Since it's a bit pricey and wasn't without a few minor transgressions, I left off the 5th star. -
Review from Esther K.
9/21/2011 1 Check-in Here
I love you JG!
I came here for lunch and loved every single morsel of food. From my experience, JG does such an amazing job with seafood... especially his fish dishes. There is such a finese of flavors and balance of acidity.
The five stars is not just for the food which was incredible but for my overall experience. I came at the tail end of lunch so there were not that many patrons. JG was eating his lunch at the table right next to me. We were the only two tables in that whole section towards the open kitchen.
After our meal, we asked the hostess if JG gets bothered when people ask to meet him and she said no... he loves meeting people who enjoy his food. So we got to meet with JG and he was as charming as can be.
My crush on JG and his food has only grown stronger after this experience.... -
Review from Holly C.
8/13/2011
No real inventive breakfast dishes here but they do the classics and they do them well. The eggs benedict ($21) was terrific. It appeared to have proscuitto, instead of regular old ham, which I appreciate. The waffles ($16) were also very good.
Service was good, as expected. The tables were a little uncomfortable. The bottom of the table flares out, forcing you to straddle the table. Two kids throwing various temper tantrums and the seating arrangement made for a less than comfortable breakfast but the great food made up for it. -
Review from martha m.
8/23/2011
I LOVE NOUGATINE'S TASTING WITH WINE PAIRING MENU. Some of the best food I've ever had.
First, the waiter was fast, friendly and very accommodating of my friend's gluten allergy.
Second, the food was fabulous. It's not even food--it's "cuisine." The first course (tuna tartare with avocado) was unforgettable--the tuna was so flavorful, not fishy at all, with perfectly-sized pieces and perfect texture. The second course--bruleed foie gras--has become one of my favorite foods, handsdown. The foie gras was warm and smooth, with a crackly sugar top, a great balance of sweet and savory. The third course (Scottish salmon and jalapeno spinach) was the best salmon I've ever had, and I'd been to Scotland. To be honest, the fourth course (filet mignon with crispy potato and wild greens) was a little too gamey for my liking, but the potato and greens were yummy. Finally, the chocolate souflee was to die for, and the mille fleu (spelling?) was light, airy, sweet and crispy, not overbearing or soggy.
I liked all the wines, but I loved a spicy red from Oregon (Oregon!). I didn't care for the dessert wine, which was too syrupy.
Oh, and the ginger lemon soda was one of the best things I've ever drank. Worth the $4.
I WANT TO GO BACK HERE IMMEDIATELY. -
Review from queenie n.
Oakland Gardens, NY
1/18/2012
delightful :)
Although, I expected something more.. dainty, i did overall enjoy my dinner. I don't know what is with the other people's experience with waiting on tables, but my friends and I reserved a table for dinner at 7:45pm, but since we had nothing better to do, we decided to go in a little earlier and we were sat at 7:30pm! We all ordered off from the restaurant week menu. When we first sat down, I was sort-of intimated by the surroundings to be honest, but eventually things settled and I got a little more comfortable. The lighting was slightly dimmed but it was perfect. And where I was sitting, I had a good view at the kitchen while the chefs were at action. It was pretty cool watching them work while I was enjoying my meal.
Before dinner was served, we were given sour bread to nosh on while we wait for our food, and I liked their sour bread. Nice, soft, and fluffy in the middle.
For the first course, three of my friends and i had the tuna tartare with avocado, 'spicy' radish, and a soy ginger marinade. The tuna itself with the avocado was very good and the 'spicy' radish kinda acts like a tortilla chip to a sauce dip. (although not spicy at all, but rather more of a "sting" as a friend of mine friend puts it) The soy ginger marinade was pretty good at first, but then towards the middle of the appetizer, I thought the sauce started to get REALLY salty to the point where my lips were a bit chapped and burned. Nonetheless, it was pretty good, one of the best I had so far.
---- by this time, I was already full...
For my main, I had the lemon crusted baked salmon with potato puree, swiss chard and a sweet chili glaze. The salmon I like, especially the way it was lemon crusted. The swiss chard I like. The potato puree, ehh, I usually never care for potatoes. The sweet-chili glaze I did not like at all! The sauce was so.. lingeringly sweet.. and it was too sweet for me. I tried to brush it off to the side, but EH there was just too much of it. But I did manage to finish my entree. (hehehehehe. I was thinking of taking it home, BUT I figured jean georges was too fancy to let me "BOX" my food to go.)
--- One of my friend had the chicken entree. I regret not knowing the details of the dish but she said it was good.
AND, to finish the meal off... dessert. WHOMP -.-'
I usually never order dessert at the end of my meal, but hey it was pre-fixe, and sometimes I should treat to dessert, although I know I will hate myself later. (But HEY, EAT NOW, REGRET LATER, & work it off at them gym TOMORROW!) ... so what do you know, I had the warm chocolate molten cake. EHH, nothing special, really. Just the right amount of richness. I think of would of enjoyed it a little more if the chocolate was a bit more darker. The vanilla bean ice cream that accompanied it was DELICIOUS! I definitely enjoyed the ice cream more than the cake. I finished the ice cream in seconds, where I had pretty much left half of the cake untouched. I had to call a server to take my plate away because I always have a tendency to nibble on my food although at most, I have finished, but because its sitting there and I usually hate wasting food, I'll nibble at it till it's almost gone!
Overall, I had a pretty good time. I enjoyed if not all of it, most of it.
---- the only problem I really had, was I realized it did take a pretty long time till our entree came out. My friends didn't mention anything about the wait time, so maybe its just me and my impatience.. But we did finish dinner around.. 9:15ish pm -
Review from Cici T.
7/22/2011
The most memorable part of lunch? Our cool and collected server. I wanted some input on the RW lunch menu, and she was more than happy to divulge. Should I get the arugula salad with spicy corn vinaigrette or the shrimp avocado salad? She's looking down at her notepad and assuredly says "shrimp". Ok, I'll have the shrimp. I'd like a fish entree. What do you recommend? "The skate's good," she begins writing on her pad. Skate it is. And I assume I should get the chocolate cake? She smiles.
She came by to ask how I liked my (actually her) selections for lunch during each course (not too intrusive but actually very kind of her).
The shrimp and avocado salad came with an orange creamy dressing, not a vinaigrette as listed on the menu, but a tangy and almost cheesy sauce. The shrimp were chewy (great texture), although the greens were not of the greatest integrity. I do wish it had more avocado and mushroom. I can see how the sauce could steal the show for diners.
The skate took a little getting used to (it's described as slowly cooked, a fall off the bone type of texture if there were any bones) with a light cilantro sauce, black beans, and bits of avocado infused with ginger. The cilantro and ginger did give the dish an asian flair.
Lastly, the valhrona chocolate cake (valhrona chocolate is absolutely divine. get the caramel milk chocolate if you like to indulge in pure sweetness or the dark 80% for character and boldness) was a bit unimaginative but was served warm with a soft and melty interior and a side of vanilla bean ice cream. The cake was made with chocolate of the bittersweet variety.
Just a note: the young man refilling my water was so severe! I tried to get him to smile by thanking him for his services. He never caught on.Listed in: Hit up the west!
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Review from Osaka A.
New York, NY
9/23/2011
Sunday brunch at Nougatine. Had the rasberry foie gras, eggs benedict and shared roasted chicken with another person at the table. Was not impressed.
Maybe my trip to Budapest just two weeks ago ruined everything. I went on a wine excursion to Tokaj and visisted a small yet renown, old fashioned winery where they also raised geese and served some excellent foie gras on a plain baguette that melted in my mouth. I didn't even like foie gras before that trip! Now I order foie gras whenever I can.
Whatever it was, foie gras fused with raspberry and drenched in sauce is not what I expected. All I could taste was raspberry. Also, as an eggs benedict fanatic this was not the best I had. Sarabeth's and St. Ambroeus have better eggs benedict.
From JG I expected a little more. We were a party of 5 and ordered almost everything on the menu to share and none of it really was standing out.
I'm sure there's a reason for such rave reviews...What's happening to me? -
Review from kevin w.
San Jose, CA
10/7/2011
My wife and I ate here twice when we were in NY. We were originally going to eat in the formal restaurant one of the nights but were lucky enough to be there during hurricane Irene so it was closed and we had to eat at Nougatine again.
We had the tasting menu the first time and it was outstanding. We didn't have a thing to complain about. Even the service was excellent.
The next time time we just ordered off the menu to try some different items and again the food and service did not disappoint. It is definitely a little pricey but worth. If you are ever in the area definitely try it. If you don't want a full dinner, the appetizers are crazy good. -
Review from Eva G.
8/15/2011
Went here a while ago for the summer restaurant week lunch menu, although are known to have a decent all-year round prix fixe menu anyway. They have more options at a price for which, elsewhere, everyone at the table would've been served either roast chicken or baked cod and ended with vanilla or chocolate ice cream. Yes, they probably have that here, but topped with bold combinations of complimentary flavors.
Service was cordial; my friend said they weren't going to seat anyone wearing shorts, jeans, or any type of sloppy wear, but I've seen it... they know better than to turn away tourists. -
Review from Jordan J.
7/21/2011
I can always tell when I'm outclassed by a restaurant when the wine-tasting feels awkward. I like wine, and I like to think that I have some ability to distinguish the good stuff, but if I'm being honest, I really don't know shit about it. And at some restaurants, during those awkwardly quiet 7 seconds, you can just tell that everyone knows it. Though I guess that's to be expected when you order the cheapest bottle on the wine list. And when your waitress walks in on a story about a guy who was practicing a medical exam that turned into borderline sexual molestation (Not me! Or anyone with me! I swear!).
Anyway. I digress. Classy or not, I still love me some good food. So let's get on with this Restaurant Week review, shall we?
First off, the amuse bouche - a cucumber soup and a crouton with goat cheese and something I can't remember (was it some sort of marinated cherry tomato?) - was AWESOME. Loved the cucumber soup, it was refreshing but had a bit of a bite to it, tasting somewhat carbonated. You have my attention, JG.
For a first course I had the tuna tartare, which was good but not mind-blowingly so. The tuna itself was super-fresh, and I really liked how it paired with the avocado, both texture and taste-wise, but for whatever reason I wasn't too crazed for it. Though I will say that the ginger marinade that it came with was absolutely outstanding.
For my entree I went with the salmon, which was served on potatoes and spinach in a passion fruit sauce. This was FANTASTIC. The salmon was cooked perfectly, just so moist and flavorful. The passion fruit sauce/marinade was SO GOOD. It somehow managed to provide a really deep passion fruit taste without seeming overpoweringly sweet. I found myself lapping up every last bit of it with some leftover bread that I had. And then with my finger.
I also tried a bit of my friend's chicken, which was just absurdly good as well. Probably the juiciest chicken I've ever had. I'd still stick with the salmon, but definitely wouldn't have been disappointed with this one either. Also, the serving size was pretty friggin massive.
Finally, I of course had to go with the warm chocolate cake for dessert, and it didn't disappoint. Perfectly baked chocolate cake with a glorious, glorious molten center. As a lover of super-dense chocolate, I actually could have gone for an even denser, more buttery cake flavor/texture, but I was really impressed with the fact that this was so damn chocolatey and still managed to seem somewhat delicate; it wasn't so overpoweringly dense that a person who isn't unhealthily obsessed with rich desserts wouldn't be able to enjoy it thoroughly.
As good as the food was, the service didn't quite match up, as it was pretty clear that we were written off as Restaurant Week punks almost immediately. Our waitress seemed to be progressively more pained by her interactions with us as time went on, and by the end of the meal she was barely even saying a word to us when she came by the table. I get that this place has truly earned its snarkiness, but this is a bar room, it would be nice if they could loosen up a bit when faced with a more casual group.
So, I'm torn on my rating here. If this weren't a place that I expected to deliver top-notch food, it would probably be five stars. But for the kind of place it is (and for the amount of money I'd be shelling out if it weren't RW), it's borderline between 4 or 5. I'll round down for the service, acknowledge that coming here and getting the tasting menu might have made this a 5-star experience, and look forward to finding an excuse to hit up Jean Georges itself someday. -
Review from Anonymous C.
Manhattan, NY
1/14/2012
Dinner at Nougatine was excellent. The decor is simple but elegant - not too fancy but a good vibe. The shrimp salad for starter was great, though it would have been great to have more dressing to marinate the all lettuce. The crab cake was also pretty good, though not the best I've had in New York. For the main course, the pork chop was probably the best pork chop I've had in the city - and the mushroom sauce was delicious. The lobster burger was also pretty good. I only tried one dessert - the chocolate cake - which was solid. I would have been at a 4.5 but the somewhat stuck up, unfriendly and inattentive service knocked it down to a 4. Definately a nice spot for after a performance at Lincoln Center.
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Review from Lu H.
Updated - 8/21/2011 1 Check-in Here
From a recent visit for dinner, I'm surprisingly disappointed from the experience. Having only been here for RW previously, I expected the regular menu to be much better, or at least as good.
Starting with appetizers...
SHRIMP SALAD: I remember being delicious last time so I wanted to try it again this time. It came with generously portioned shrimp and avocado. I enjoyed it, though the shrimp was smothered in a creamy sauce that was slightly sweet. I could have done without that. Overall a nice appetizer to start with if you like shrimp and lightly
SEARED FOIS GRAS: This came with a nice raspberry reduction of some sort on top. I enjoyed the two tastes together - the decadent fattiness of the fois gras actually did well with the sweetness of the raspberry. Very nice.
Sadly, entrees is where they lost it.
PORK CHOP: My friend ordered this and it turned out to be very, very dry. It was probably among the worst I've had in a restaurant of Nougatine's calibur. We speculated that because it was so late perhaps we got the very last pork chop that wa sitting out. Who knows.
RED SNAPPER: My snapper fared a little better than the pork chop. It came with roasted tomatoes and zucchini, whic I tend to like. It was decent, but very ordinary compared to the amazing red snapper dish right next door at JG. The sauce in this dish was very brothy, light, and somewhat bland. I don't mind light dishes, but this lacked real flavor. It pretty much tasted like the ingredients that were listed out on the menu.
Dessert was also strange. We ordered the RASPBERRY CHEESECAKE SUNDAE, which turned out to be a shortbread cookie with a tiny amount of cheesecake buried under a mound if whipped cream, topped with a few raspberries and stick-shaped meringue. It was not very tasty, and definitely NOT a $12 dessert.
Their soda was also excruciatingly sweet, though I do like their Organic Avenue pressed juices.
All in all, pretty let down by Nougatine. My previous RW experiences here were actually better both in terms of service and food, even though the RW menu is limited to 3 entree options. I'm not sure I've ever been so harsh or dissatisfied with a JG restaurant. I still like the other JG restaurants, and will plan on revisiting the others before coming back to Nougatine.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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2/1/2010
Lovely! Went for Sunday dinner during restaurant week with a friend. Beautiful atmosphere, great… Read more »
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Review from Emilia T.
Manhattan, NY
10/21/2011
Horribly mediocre and below JG's "standards". The food served here should only be acceptable on a bad episode of Chopped.
I came here with four of my family members to celebrate my sister's birthday. Since it was a special occasion, we all opted for the $68 tasting menu. I was looking forward to my first experience with JG and after reading other Yelper's reviews had high expectations.
We were seated promptly in the center of the dining room. The service was very slow and we waited about 15 minutes to place our order. We placed drink orders and other requests with different waiters throughout the meal and kept having to flag down random waiters who passed our table. Very frustrating.
Once our courses began arriving, my perception towards the meal shifted quickly from being excited about the meal...to being hopeful that the next course would be better...to laughing about how awful everything was. Like I said, the flavor combinations they had were straight out of an episode of chopped. Literally... there had to be some sort of ingredients basket in the kitchen that they were forced to use. What comes to mind the most was the salmon dish we had. Picture this: a decent salmon filet on top of a bed of spinach with jalapeno SLICES in it covered in an overly-sweet, orange sherbet sauce. Gross! The worst part was every dish had some sort of fatal flavor flaw. There was no part of the meal that was remotely tasty. Even the flourless chocolate cake tasted like it came out of a box.
At the end of the meal, as we all sat there bloated and disappointed, we got the bill which came to over $500. Its safe to say I will never come back.
