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59th St-Columbus Circle (1, A, C, B, D)
57th St-7th Ave (N, Q, R, W)
57th St-6th Ave (F)
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Perhaps it was the hustle and bustle of Columbus Circle--awash in the mood of this romantic city I found my way to Nougatine. Alone, I sat at the bar, surrounded by bankers and cougars. Ahhh, it was a picture perfect stereotype of Manhattan's wanna-be elite. I ordered the 4-course tasting and spent my meal eavesdropping on conversations ranging from turmoiled affairs and secret families to the most pretenses argument over which airline has the best first class. So precious. It was like a Micheline-rated TV dinner.
I found the food thoughtful, well-executed and the tasting was a good value at 38 smackers. Plus the bartenders can mix a mean cocktail. All-in-all, a perfect and memorable night.
I've only been here for lunch, but their lunch is the gold standard of 3-course price-fixe lunches in New York City. The food is mostly excellent, and there is plenty of it, since the first two courses can be chosen from anywhere on the menu (two entrees, if desired), and it's only $26, or whatever they're charging these days.
I haven't been here for dinner, and, yes, the service is not particularly good or attentive. And the dining room looks like something out of the mid-'80s. But if you want one of the best lunches in New York for a good price, make a reservation at Nougatine. And since they offer the lunch price-fixe on Saturdays, anybody can give it a try.
As others have mentioned, the prix-fixe lunch here is a fantastic bargain. You get three courses, each one presented at the table (the sauce is poured on your dish while you watch), and you walk out without feeling like you've spent your whole paycheck. Also, depending on how hungry you are, you can go for two entrees instead of an appetizer and entree.
I had the artichoke (perfectly steamed, arriving with a lovely lemon butter dipping sauce) and the grilled beef tenderloin (served medium rare by default in a rich, buttery sauce). For dessert, I had the cinammon pot de creme with cider sorbet and whipped topping. The view was spectacular--floor-to-ceiling windows looking out onto Central Park and Columbus Circle--and the pace of our lunch was leisurely. By the end, I felt that I had eaten a whole stick of butter (each dish is that rich)--fantastic!
My favorite part was the view. Bet it'd look gorgeous in the wintertime. We had the best table in the house - the big round right in front, by the window. As for the food though, it was disappointing. I expected a lot more. Yes, I know it's the more casual of the two JG restaurants there, but STILL. I wouldn't expect the food quality to be any less. We all had the pre-fixe and the food was average, at best. The only thing I particularly liked was the amuse bouche, go figure. My steak was overcooked, my red snapper was too salty, I could go on..but I don't really care to.
The meal was good, but that was due to the company (and the three bottles of wine helped, I'm sure.) Probably wouldn't return in the future. Maybe to JG, but not here.
Two disappointing dining experiences in one week. whaaa! I've eaten in the main dinning room here and loved it. I was completely unhappy with our time here.
The amuse-bouche was the best thing we had all night. I ordered the calamari for my appetizer and it came out fried. There was NO mention of "crispy" or "tempura" or anything of the like. When they brought it over they could see I was not happy, but didn't seem to care. Also, I barely touched it and our waiter didn't even ask why?
I had the Salmon for my main, which was fine. Not great, but fine. My husband ordered the Lobster and it also came fried with NO warning. He barely touched the Lobster and again, no question of his satisfaction of the dish.
We eat out a lot and we both have much bigger eyes then our stomachs. Almost everywhere we go, our server will ask, "Was everything okay with your dish?" And usually, the answer is "Yes, we're just stuffed!" But, here-no one seemed to care if we were happy or not.
Our waiter disappeared for such a long stretch that we asked to order dessert from the busboy. In the main dinning room, the desserts are the highlight. Here, they seem an afterthought. The one standout dessert was the carrot cake. Yum.
For $200 a person. I would never, ever step foot in here. And that makes me sad.
On this occassion I went with an open mind and empty belly. Usually everything tastes supreme when famished. Sadly this was just an average dining experience with above average prices.
Firstly, kiddie sized portions are unacceptable when blowing $100+ pp. No wonder why French women don't get fat. The gazpacho amuse-bouche, Italian semolina bread, crab salad, halibut with citrus foam and whipped fingerling potatoes were uninspiring and forgettable.
Note, the halibut is not available on the Nougatine menu, only in the fancier dining room at a fancier price. Our server asked if I would like him to ask the chef to make special arrangements for me. "Indeed
I would" and as per my request he fetched. Good thing Artichoke Pizza is open late because I was hungry again a mere hour later.
I was disappointed the bread pudding, so many raved about, was not available. The chocolate cake with vanilla bean was good, but far from spectacular. I've had better, hotter coffee and when I ordered flat water I didn't expect Figi in a plastic bottle.
I was content with my glass of Spanish Temparnillo; pleased about the female staff- the requisite one on the floor and the one in the exposed kitchen. Good acoustics and no blasting, obnoxious music. My lovely voice didn't become loud and brassy, it remained raspy which pleased my date. Most of all I appreciated that my server didn't 'ma'am'...ma'am...ma'am me to death!
If a woman doesn't have a ring on her finger and a bunch of crotch berries; if she isn't in the military or doesn't run a brothel... Do. not. Ma'am/Madam! Please stick to Ms. or if addressing yours truly, ' mea domina'. Trust me...no woman likes the hideous, sexist, lazy 4 letter excuse for a word, 'Ma' am' !
Thank you, sir!
My fiance took us here for our 2 year anniversary date/ celebration thingy. We commented on how it's interesting that Jean Georges' is rated with 3 stars on the Michelin Guide but this place isn't, especially since the food is from the same kitchen.
The food - I ordered the grilled pork chop with asparagus and he ordered the tasting menu which consisted of tuna tartare, foie gras, snapper, beef tenderloin and a dessert tasting. I think the only UNIQUE item was the foie gras, which was so buttery smooth and interestingly enough, caramelized so that it had a pleasant and light sweetness to it. All the other items were very average items without distinct signature flavors. Too bad because the food was good, just not unique for the cost. I also ordered a glass of wine - which was not bad about $4.50 for a half glass. =)
The price - Well, it's not bad for a French restaurant. The tasting menu was $68 and my entree was $28. But...being the voracious eater that I am, it doesn't sit well that so much money was shelled out for such a small portion of food. I guess I'll have to chalk it up to experience! The La Rochelle in Tokyo, Japan oddly enough, had a better tasting menu and at a cheaper price...but then again, you'd have to go to Japan...
The ambiance - A very mellow and seemingly "after work hangout" place. It is a bit loud (because it's basically Jean Georges' bar) but not overly so that we couldn't hear each other. It seems like a good place for a group hangout. Dim lights, large bar area, small but intimate spaces.
The service - Friendly, they keep you water refilled or whatever beverage you want. The food comes at a decent pace and our utensils get changed every 5 minutes. Attentiveness is a plus!
I was in heaven.....literally....the breeze was cool the sun was warm the trees were swaying and I was with one of my best friends sitting outside on the terrace facing the time warner building which conveniently is next to Central Park!
Their prix fix lunch was the best thing that graced Columbus Circle cause it took away Columbus' spark, he even had to turn his back to Nougatine.
My friend had the tuna tartare (amazing presentation! and YUM!), the slow poached salmon with crispy jasmine rice and PEELED heirloom tomatoes (OMG! how innovative and colorful~ @_^) and the vanilla cake with strawberries and meringe (beautiful!).
I had the goat cheese honeydew salad with passionfruit vinagarette (I love honeydew!), and the roasted chicken with mashed potatoes and wax beans (OMG! the chicken was PERFECT! MAD DELICIOUS!), then dessert I had their Jean George signature chocolate cake with vanilla bean ice cream (DID I JUST DIE AND GONE TO HEAVEN?.....the warm chocolate OOZED out of this decadence!).
I asked where the bathroom was and the waiter went out of his way to take me to it...How nice! ....all this for under 30$?!?!?!
Our entrees were also finished off with a pouring of the sauce at the table,....ooo fancy and made me feel special!
OMG! I also saw the artichoke salad on the table next to us....it was gorgeous! I am sooo getting that next time! I can't wait to come again :)
What a deal!
LOVE IT!
very nice and pleasant lunch, but it wasn't amazing. Tuna tartare was good and my pan roasted snapper was cooked well.
For more reviews visit my blog.
A classy, modern restaurant tucked inside the Trump Plaza hotel. With windows peering out onto Columbus Circle and an exposed kitchen on the opposite end, you get an unpretentious dining experience with a fantastic view. Moreover, the wait staff is wonderfully patient in describing all of our plates for us. The pacing (12-15 minutes between each plate) made the dining experience that much more enjoyable as we never felt rushed.
After trying numerous prix-fixe menus at upscale dining establishment only to be disappointed by either portions or choices, to find a tasting menu that has an extensive list of items that I'd want to try (including the signature beef tenderloin and chocolate cake recommended by Yelpers) was quite exciting. The tasting menu ($68) included:
Tuna tartare with avocado and radish - the strong ginger marinade was quite overwhelming, and the tartare wasn't particularly fresh tasting. Okay, but nothing memorable.
Fois gras brule with cherry yuzu compote - a wonderful combination of texture and taste; tastes of the compote and fois gras are distinguishable as you are choosing and neither compromises the other in any way.
Red snapper with lily-bulb radish salad - perfectly cook without the toughness that comes with each bite for typically prepared snappers either at Thai restaurants or Malaysian places.
Grilled beef tenderoin with garlic, parsley, and chili - tender, juicy, done medium to medium-rare. Portion is quite reasonable even for a tasting menu. Chili sauce added a nice kick to each bite. Excellent.
Warm chocolate cake with vanilla ice cream - soft, silky smooth goodness that melts in your mouth. Truly memorable.
Wonderful atmosphere, attentive waitstaff, and food that elicits total delectation. Well worth $85 (incl. tax and tip)! 4.5 stars!
We came here for the dinner tasting menu. I think it was 5 courses, but you get a complimentary starter. Everything was delicious. I would say that the tenderloin was the best part -- perfectly cooked. The service was also impeccable. And given that it was a fixed price, it wasn't obscenely expensive. I'd probably only go back for special occasions.
The women's bathroom by the lobby was very disappointing. Only 1 stall at a first class restaurant? seriously?
I went to lunch with coworkers because we work so close and it was part of restaurant week. We had the lunch special which is normally $26.00. You can choose 2 dishes and 1 dessert. The Tuna Tartar was fantastic,it was fresh and tasty. It came on a bed of avocado surrounded by a chili sauce. The red snapper had a great crispy skin and was on a bed of squash with a chunky tomato sauce. The strawberry shortcake had a tasty sorbet. This lunch was one of the best I've had and was totally worth the price. The portion size was enough especially for lunch.
I visited NYC recently with my wife. Nougatine was recommended by a very trusted friend of mine and fellow Yelper, Paul K.
There were 5 of us, all of whom had not seen each other in several years (except for my wife and me obviously). We were thrilled to be together again and had lots about which to talk and laugh. We all had the $35 prix fixe dinner -- a superb value and the quality of the food was that to be expected from a 5 star establishment.
Sadly, it is there that my praise ends. Our waiter set a tone with us that put us ill at ease from the beginning of the meal. I had brought a small, Sony Webbie camera that I was using to shoot some stills of the group and of the room. Before introducing himself and while other servers were filling our waters, he very coldly said, "You're gonna have to put that away."
It was like one of those moments where somebody does something really awkward in one of those 80's party movies and the record player needle grinds off the vinyl.
RRRR!!!!!
Everyone at the table got quiet and just sort of grimaced as he proceeded to introduce himself and list the specials as though he hadn't just been a bit of a dick.
Then one of my guests who had expressed some minor annoyance at the lack of bread at the table asked, "Well could you at least bring us some bread?"
"After you order," he responded with the same condescending tone with which he just scolded me.
"We'll need a second." I said, "so you can just go ahead and bring it now."
The waiter spun around and left without a word.
Then we spent the next several minutes debating on whether to just grab a manager and insist on a new waiter or if we should just trash this place on Yelp for service. As you can see, we chose the latter.
These were friends of mine that had not seen each other in years, had so much to talk about and so many reasons to get new photos together, and yet all we could talk about the rest of the evening was how we had been treated at the beginning of the meal.
We were not happy.
The rest of the dinner was fine, but it just goes to show how one little comment by an insensitive waiter can destroy the mood of an evening -- especially in a "5-star" restaurant.
My friend called the next morning and told the day-manager about our experience and he was appropriately embarrassed and apologetic.
I'm sure this was an isolated event, and would still generally recommend the place, but unless I hear from my friend in NY that they invited him back to prove their competence in service -- gratis, of course -- then I'm gonna write it off as one of the many restaurants in NY that merely wishes to be perceived as having class and does not care to actually back up that perception.
I'll be waiting on a phone call from my friend before I bring the stars back.
While I was in town, I went to Nougatine twice for the prix-fixe menu. Choose wisely b/c you can really get a great value for $26!
The cold, pea soup is simple, but quite good. There was a definite pea taste (good in pea soup) and the cheese and croutons perfectly complimented it. The shrimp salad was nothing special, fine if you want just salad (the shrimp were perfectly cooked). The calamari is realllly tasty- really well seasoned and the sauce is wonderful. But get the tuna tartare- a perfect dish.
Not a fan of the roasted chicken. The chicken was OK, tender inside, didn't like the skin. While I love ricotta and gnocchi, the ricotta gnocchi that came with the chicken was a disappointment. I couldn't taste the ricotta and the texture was not that of normal gnocchi. The salmon was not too surprising, a solid entree.
The desserts were simple and perfectly ended very good meals. I like sitting at the bar. It was packed at noon, but almost empty at 2:30. Beautiful restaurant, personally like the calmer atmosphere at Perry St better. The prix-fixe menu had changed within the week I went so you can always try new plates!
Went here for a restaurant week lunch with my good friend, and overall we were pretty satisfied by this modern cafe.
Our waiter was friendly enough, but incredibly distant and even a little cold. I could be completely assuming here, but he gave the impression that he'd treat us more warmly if we ordered a la carte.
Regardless, the food won us over. I started out with their honeydew melon salad, decked out with clumps of goat cheese, bits of lardons, endive, and a drizzle of passion fruit dressing (the best part.) My friend was in love with her tuna tartare, which came with avocado, radishes, and a ginger marmalade that really enlivened the whole dish.
Entrees were slightly less stellar but no less tasty. My friend really enjoyed her medium rare beef tenderloin, which came with garlic, chili and parsley (and potatoes too, I think.) I'm not too enamored by steak, but it was good. The same went for my roasted chicken dish - luckily it was moist (though the second piece was riddled with fat,) and crispy. However, my disappointment reached untold levels when I saw that the "ricotta gnocchi" consisted of exactly three cylindrical pasta shapes similar in character to mini marshmallows.
I decided to skip the straight forward offerings for dessert and go for the a la carte selections, finally settling on "Rose Macaron." Unfortunately, it was more sparse than I would have hoped. A single pink macaron was topped with a vanilla parfait, and served with berries, berry coulis, and a few scatterings of candied rose petals. The flavor of rose was almost entirely absent, and I left wishing I had been like my friend and ordered the molten chocolate cake - a crusty, gooey ode to all that is wonderful in this world.
I don't see us ever returning - methinks a better deal can be found in the Jean Georges restaurant itself.
I am not sure what all the fuss about the Jean Georges restaurants are, and I'm not sure they warrant the pretense and the prices either, but I did like the food I ordered. I ordered their only chicken item on the menu, which is not on it anymore, I think. The wine list is pretty awesome, my boss picked two really great wines, a red and a white for the table. Oh speaking of which, if this wasn't a business dinner, a farewell, I would have never made it here, since it is way too pretentious and expensive for my taste. The ambiance is too quiet to me, but I liked the ultra-modern simplicity of the decor inside. The bathrooms were awesome, as soon as you figure out how to open the door... The chocolate mousse dessert was divine!!!!
We had a wonderful meal at the bar. We just walked in after a day at the MOMA and The Met. We met nice people there and had a great meal. the wasabi peanuts are great too. Oh, and the ginger martini is fab!
Delicious prix-fixe menu: Check
Free bread: Check
Nice, informed staff: Check
Good atmosphere: Check
How can you say no to Jean Georges?
The best things eaten were: melon & goats cheese salad (unbelievable!), sweet pea soup (creamy, and with bits of brie! i love brie!), and a warm chocolate cake desert (melted oozy goodness in the center!) with inexplicably good vanilla bean ice cream (oh, why did I share?!)
The other desert was tasty, but incomparable to the chocolate one. The entrees were great, but not nearly as stunning as the appetizers we had. And for a $25 lunch, it was an amazing deal for the quality of food.
Yumyumyum. I love food. I love Jean George. I would go back for that cake alone. All by myself. And if it didn't seem greedy, I would order two.
At the end of the day, even said-famous restaurants are subjective to your own personal taste. Just because someone says it's good doesn't mean you'll like it. You are the final judge.
The three of us went in for the $26/prix fixe lunch. Upon walking through the doors, we were greeted by the maitre d' who flinched at our outdoorsy NorCal outfits. Not exactly the most friendly greeting, but okay, I understand her role as "gatekeeper" to this sacred culinary temple. We chose to wear what was comfortable and functional (later that day, we got caught in 4 sporadic rain showers. I was glad to have my rain gear so I was dry!).
But of course, on to the food...
-Pea soup: creamy, good as the first bite, got cold and thick too quickly, with almost repetitive flavors... I couldn't finish it because it was too rich. The highlights were the fresh peas. I wish the entire dish had less puree, more chunky parts.
-Salmon: very salty. Mashed potatoes were almost too vinegary in a harsh way.
-Chocolate cake with oozy melted center-- the best!
I clearly enjoyed dessert more than the rest of my meal. Being from California (and living in the Gourmet Ghetto of Berkeley, think: Alice Waters) I'd prefer dishes that allow the ingredients to stand out, with the fish from sustainable sources, with restaurants that prioritize food over its patrons' clothing choices. Simple, fresh, and sustainable dishes triumph over complex, salty, sweet and sour flavors masking the purity of the ingredients.
FYI: The "view" of Central Park: actually a large road in front of the park. Not exactly scenic. Not worth the extra trouble to request the tables with a view because they are too close to the front entrance.
I've admitted many times that this French restaurant or that French restaurant is my favorite place in town, I have now been proven wrong by Jean-Georges.
One Saturday night recently, we tried to go to Bistro Balud on the UWS and the staff was shitty and totally could have cared less. In fact, they sucked so much, I will probably never attempt to go. But that's neither here nor there, but it did lead to walking over to Jean-Georges to see what the odds were of getting a table there.
Well, no tables, but we did get two seats at the bar and the bar serves both the casual dining and the formal dining room menus....
The food was fantastic. The wine, we could have picked a little better on. But the shrimp salad was the greatest salad I have ever tasted and for that alone, Nougatine deserves the full 5 stars.
Just came back from Nougatine tonight... I feel like now I don't have to go to Jean George. The entrance is the same, the bar is the same, the kitchen is the same. I think even the amuse was the same. In addition and perhaps most importantly, I saw both menus and they shared some of the same items (like the pea soup), but the food was cheaper at Nougatine. I went with four people and was able to try:
Homemade cherry-yuzu soda- delicious, refreshing, and unexpected. Order it instead of the over-priced cocktail (recommended)
Tuna tartare- not too memorable, but the fish was fresh and the portions decent
Foie Gras Brulee- not too salty but still should mix it with the lemon jam (recommended)
Crab cake- good amount of crab, should be called a crab salad.. nothing cakey about this appetizer
Snapper/Cod- couldn't tell which was which.. standard business hotel white fish fare
Beef Tenderloin- a bit rare for my taste.. the beef tasted slightly gamey
Chicken- two huge pieces of chicken breast with crisp skin and lots of seasoning (recommended)
Concord Grape Vacherin- grape sorbet artistically presented
Overall, the experience was great. My one real complaint is that there is only one toilet to serve the entire restaurant. I repeat... one toilet for the whole restaurant, so plan on not having any emergency bathroom needs during the meal.
Got the dinner course for $38. Most amazing meal I've ever had. I loved the salmon and corn polenta dish the most--this is the way salmon should taste. Perfectly cooked to medium-rare. The corn was really good too. The only negative was my plae was a little greasier than my friends'. My friend who doesn't even like corn thought it was great. The corn and salmon complemented very nicely, as did the tomatoes.
Second fav dish was the watermelon and goat cheese. What an interesting flavor combination, lots of nice texture contrasts too. I used the bread to soak up the remaining flavorful oil.
The chicken dish was also nice with a crispy skin, but I didn't find it as amazing as these other two. Same with the chocolate desserts (although still delicious).
The service was wonderful.
I had their prix fix dinner. It started off with an amuse-bouche of salmon with tarragon and a watermelon gazpacho. The salmon melted in my mouth like butter. The soup was decent, but a bit overpowering.
The first course was young goat cheese on watermelon cubes with olive oil and peppercorns. Simple, but I loved it. It's definitely something that everyone should try at home.
The second course was a slow poached salmon with a corn puree and tomatoes. The fish was cook beautifully and the tomatoes were fresh. However, the dish was ruined by the puree. It tasted a bit like Kix cereal and looked like lumpy baby food.
The third course was by far the best, roasted chicken with crispy skin. The chicken was really juicy and I loved how light and crispy the skin was. The stock with it was a bit salty.
For dessert, I did not care for the chocolate cake. However, the vanilla bean ice cream was to die for. Best vanilla ice cream I've had.
As for the decor, it is a beautiful restaurant. My favorite part is how the kitchen is open and you can see everything going on from your table.
Aside from the good food, the space is wonderful: open, airy, with views of Columbus Circle and Central Park. Everything was good, all around.
These days they have a restaurant-week fixed price menu all year round, so if their a la carte prices are too much for you, you can still try that. Just be careful when you're going--that fixed price menu is not available Saturdays and only at certain times on Fridays and Sundays. Or something like that. It's a little confusing, but the web site sorts it out.
With so many restaurants in NYC, there aren't that many that I regularly frequent since I like to try new places all the time. However, Nougatine is one restaurant that I wouldn't mind returning to over and over again. There's nothing on the menu that I don't think is cooked and prepared well. I usually order one of their fish entrees (the slowly cooked salmon melts in your mouth) and they never disappoint. I am not a big fan of foie gras, but my friends rave over the foie gras brule. The atmosphere is very relaxed and obviously not as formal as the Jean-George's dining room right next door. I also love how they have little bottles of Sarabeth's preserves during brunch! The only down side I can really think of is that the service is hit or miss. The last time I was there for dinner, our waiter disappeared for long periods of time.
Nougatine was the highlight of my most recent culinary tour of NYC. And by culinary tour, I mean the only thing I did on my trip (or so it seems) was eat and drink my way through the city.
The $24.07 prix-fixe lunch menu here was genius, and a nice way to experience what Jean Georges has to offer without going broke. It's too bad it wasn't a nicer day; I dined here last Saturday while it poured rain outside. But nonetheless, my table right by the window afforded splendid views of Central Park and the tulips planted in the large planters outside.
I started with the salt and pepper calamari, which was really good. And for the main course, I had red snapper. I finished with the spiced cake. My friend had the tuna tartare, the beef, and the chocolate dessert, so we did a bit of sampling from each others plates. It was all wonderful, albeit the portions were small, but for a prix-fixe menu, it was somewhat to be expected.
In my opinion, this was a great and affordable way to sample an otherwise pricey restaurant. The service was impeccable and attentive, but not stuffy, and the food delivered like the menu advertised and my preconceived notions expected.
I loved Nougatine! My friend and I went there for lunch on a Friday and liked it so much we went back two days later for dinner! For lunch, we both did the prix fixe for $26 which included an appetizer, entree, and dessert. I got the tuna tartar appetizer which was good but not nearly as good as the calamari that my friend ordered. We both agreed that the calamari was the BEST we had ever had. I think a lot of other people agreed too because when we went back on Sunday and tried to order the calamari they told us they had run out over the weekend!
For my entree I ordered the slow cooked salmon with miso sauce and crispy rice. It was outstanding! The sauce was light and did not overpower the taste of the salmon. My friend ordered the steak and it was good but she decided to try the chicken the 2nd time. The chicken was delicious - moist and flavorful!
The service here was decent - nothing memorable but in line with other restaurants of this caliber. The atmosphere is ok - it seemed very quiet to me even though it was over half full, but that definitely wouldn't be a reason for me not to go back. Loved Nougatine!
I came here for a late lunch (around 1:30PM) with my bf. I rarely give out 5 stars, but this is one of those occasions where I must. We literally have no complaints about service, food, or cleanliness.
I originally had made a reservation of 4 but 2 friends bailed, so the restaurant was able to accommodate us a bit earlier at 1:10PM.
Being a bit stressed about finding the place (which is located in the Trump Hotel) and 2 friends bailing on us, we both needed a drink by the time we got there. He ordered a Bloody Mary and I ordered a Bellini. Both were good. Although the Bloody Mary was so good that my bf and I ordered another 2. The Bloody Mary wasn't salty like most other places and had a refreshing / bit bitter kick due to the fresh capers in the drink. Fantastic! We were off to a great start.
Both of us were in a weird mood for food being that it was around 1:10PM and we hadn't eaten anything all morning... so we ordered some breakfast and some lunch. We ended up getting the following:
1) Eggs Benedict (breakfast) - good as expected
2) Foie Gras Brulee (appetizer) - it had Cherry Yuzu Compote. I would totally order this again. The Foie Gras melted in your mouth. I can't even begin to describe.
3) Pre Fixed Lunch (Grilled Beef Tenderloin, Slowly Cooked Salmon, and Warm Chocolate Cake) We ordered the Grill Beef Tenderloin - medium rare. Most places would cook it medium whenever we order medium rare. This was a delightful surprise. It was cooked perfectly to the way we liked it. The Salmon was cooked to perfection as well. It wasn't fishy tasting and cooked just done so that the fish was really soft. It's almost as if they had just killed the salmon and cooked it in the kitchen. The fish was super fresh. For dessert, we got the famous Jean Georges Warm Chocolate Cake w. vanilla bean ice cream.
Funny thing was that my bf and I always order 1 dessert to share. The dessert there was so good, we actually asked our waiter for another dessert. He recommended the Strawberry Vacherin (with Anise Meringue, Lemon Ice Cream, and Lavender Almonds). Again fantastic.
Additionally, we also got 2 Fresh Fruit and Herbal Sodas (Passion Fruit-Lime and Black Cherry Yuzu). Both of which were good because they weren't sweet. I'm very much into the delicate natural flavors and everything we ordered was just that.
Our total bill came out to about $150 (excluding the tip), which includes about $50 in alcohol (Bellini & Bloody Marys). It definitely was worth the $ for the quality of the food and service.
You can't beat Nougatine for lunch!
First, you should know that I prefer to dine out for lunch vs. dinner. Typically it is more relaxed and a much better value and I find it more decadent!
The space and the food and the service were all amazing. With JG you know that all the details are going to be perfect (unless you won't dine at a restaurant that doesn't have table cloths.)
Jean Georges was even in the kitchen at the end of lunch service.
The $26.00 prix-fixe menu allows you to pick 2 plates (any two plates...not an appetizer and an entree) and 1 dessert.
My dining partner and I started with a lovely red snapper with a crispy salad of lily bulbs and radishes infused with ginger and a gorgeous shrimp salad with avocado with a champagne dressing. Both were outstanding in terms of taste, quality, and presentation. The servings are not huge...but are quite generous in my opinion. For our second course we had the beef tenderloin and the roasted organic chicken. Both were phenomenal. Currently - there are only two choice for desert (Vanilla cake with strawberries and strawberry sorbet and a warm chocolate cake with vanilla bean ice cream. Both delicious.
We splurged on cucumber/Hendricks Gin/mint martinis (we had them at Perry Street previously and loved them...$14 each) before the meal and had a really nice Riesling for $26.00.
We will return.
Nougatine is an AWESOME lunch value that I will surely return to regardless of whether I can still get the lunch deal.
I came here for lunch instead of Jean Georges because I was on vacation and didn't want to dress up for a good meal. The 3 course prix fixe lunch deal for $24.07 was my main reason for coming here. I was able to make lunch reservations on open table about a week in advance. As I was walking here after departing the subway right at Central Park, I couldn't pinpoint where the restaurant was. After calling, the hostess told me to head it was in the first floor of Trump Tower. Pretty easy to find after that description.
Dress code:
The place had every table full by the time I arrived at 12:15 on a Friday. I was glad to have made the reservation. Although I arrived in jeans, I didn't feel under dressed. Dress ranged from business people in suits to one or two people in shorts. When I asked about dress code, they told me business casual.
Food:
I can't really recommend too many specific dishes here because I don't want to do any dish the injustice of leaving it out. I came in a party of 5 and I sampled every dish that was ordered. Every dish tasted great, was perfectly cooked, and had beautiful presentation. (I will say I started my meal with the beet salad and it was awesome. Colorful, tasty, and light.)
Service:
The service for lunch was flawless. Exactly what you would expect for this class of restaurant.
this sh*t is bananas. B-A-N-A-N-A-S.
its SSSOOOO DDEELLIICCIIOOUUSS
that it's making me stutter-type.
its $35 bucks for the prix fixe year round
which comes with an appetizer, two main
(meat/fish) dishes, and dessert. and yummy
fresh rolls with butter.
everything you there is absolutely amazing
from the little amuse-bouche of crab on pumpernickel
bread with a shot of soup they served at the beginning
to the onion and truffle oil sauce surrounded by white
bean puree that supported my perfectly cooked
chicken.
even food i don't usually like, i like there.
the cooks made me love tuna tartare,
beef short ribs, and jalepenos. which
i NEVER thought would happen.
I can always count on the nougatine room for
a super high quality dinner without going into
debt.
I wish i could take one of the cooks from the
restaurant home. and i'd take some extra bread rolls
while i was at it too.
I'm from Los Angeles, and this is probably my 12th time in NYC. I've heard so much of Jean Georges and have only once tried his food (Vong's Thai Kitchen in Chicago), so I was excited to go last minute to Noutagine on a WEdnesday night with my sister and her boyfriend (Jean Georges was of course booked).
Here goes:
Ambiance
The reception was cramped, but staff was very helpful and took our coats and my luggage. One poor woman's job there was just to open/close the door. Apparently she was rude to my sister's boyfriend when he tried to walk in to meet us. The interior was loud and crowded, and I was not super impressed by decor (I'm in architecture, so I guess I'm picky). It was nice seeing the kitchen though, and Jean George himself actually walked by a few times!
Service
Our handsome waiter stopped by quickly to give us water and menus, but we didn't see him again for another 15 minutes. Negative stars! He also didn't really care to explain items on the menu.
Food
The menu was varied and everything sounded unique. We didn't drink anything special, and ended up eating tons of bread while we waited for our absent server. A complimentary shot of asparagus lime puree + prosciutto on the side came out as a palate starter, and that was very tasty and unique, though salty.
For our main course, my sister's boyfriend had the roasted chicken w/ ricotta gnocchi + mushrooms. The chicken was nice and crisp on outside, and juicy on inside, but the ricotta gnocchi looked and tasted like dirt. We did not care for the texture at all! My sister had the slow-cooked salmon which was cooked to soft perfection. The potato puree and shredded carrots were very tasty. I ordered the red snapper w/ radish, miso sauce, sea beans and ginger. It was way salty. The ginger was so overwhelming, and the sea beans just didn't go with the fish. The side salad my sister and I shared was very tasty w/ the lemon vinaigrette topping, pear and fresh greens, but the salad overall lacked sauce/complex flavor throughout.
Overall, the food here is not worth how much you pay. I should have gone to Jean George for lunch and gotten much better food + service. I've had much tastier, unique, less salty foods for better prices, both in NY and LA. Maybe I'm a little biased against American cuisine w/ too much Asian-fusion influence...
One of the best deal in town, prix fixe menu at $24, amazing food ( try the Shrimp Salad, Avocado and Tomato, Champagne and Vinegar Dressing and then the beef) and a perfect service. With no discussion it is one of the best place to go for a lunch in Manhattan.
Classy, very elaborate food and a smile (needed in this tuff times)
I strongly recommend Nougatine
When I read that Jean Georges was so GRACIOUSLY offering a "Recession Special" $35 prix fixe menu at several of his restaurants, I thought, "What a perfect semi-affordable thing to do for J's birthday!". We don't go out to eat that much anymore, especially to fancy places, so Nougatine promised to be a special birthday treat.
HOWEVER
The $35 menu does not give you any choice at all for your dinner--you must get the roast chicken entree, which I'm pretty sure I'd never order in a restaurant, ever, especially not a highly-acclaimed French restaurant. So we made the executive decision to order off the regular menu, and while our food overall was very tasty, it was by no means mind-blowing, and there were a couple of dark spots. J's foie gras was over-bruleed and too cold on the inside (and yes, I know how I sound complaining about foie gras during a recession), and the lemon-poppy-horseradish sauce on my snapper overwhelmed what was otherwise a perfectly-cooked piece of fish.
That said, J's salmon was beautifully rare and buttery, and my calamari appetizer was crispy and well-seasoned, AND turned out to be hiding a delicious piece of crispy bacon! I love surprise bacon!
My biggest complaint was the timing of the meal--we felt incredibly rushed the entire time. We were asked for drink orders within 15 seconds of sitting down, before we'd even had a chance to open the wine list. Someone tried to take away J's bread plate as he was literally still buttering his bread, and they also tried twice to take away our appetizer plates when we were clearly still eating. Our entrees came within a minute of our app's being cleared--a big pet peeve of mine; I like to linger, to let my calamari settle before I dive into another course, and I HATE feeling like I'm being forced to move too quickly through my meal when I'm spending a substantial amount of money.
All JG had to do was give us a few options on the 3-course prix fixe, and I probably wouldn't be whining so much. That and tell his servers to CHILL.
We had the restaurant week prix fixe dinner with associated wine pairings. There was a lot of food (more than I expected) with each course, and the wine pourings were generous. The first course (tuna tartare) was excellent, with a perfect riesling pairing. The dessert course was also excellent with a muscat pairing.
But that is where my praise ends. The skate dish had a terrible pairing, and the chicken dish was dry and unimaginative. For such a nice restaurant I would have expected better. -1 for these two courses.
-1 for lukewarm service. Again, in a nice restaurant I would expect better. Maybe it's because we ordered the restaurant week prix fixe, but that's no way to develop new clientele. I probably won't be coming back here, not with so many other good choices.
My overall experience: 3.5
Food 3.5 to 4 stars
Waiter minus many stars (wished I'd complained to his mgr)
Our waiter was not attentive to us As he was more concerned with the UESders. Granted we ordered from the lunch pre-fixe but so what... That's no reason to be a prick to us. He actually was curt with me when I had a question about the dessert and once he took the order he did not visit back (meanwhile he was checking on others -- with a smile to boot!)
At the end of our meal we had to flag another waiter for our check. Ridiculous.
What I choose:
Shrimp Salad avocado and tomato champagne vinegar dressing -It's amazing how the dressing takes it to a whole 'nther level!
Soy Glazed Beef Short Ribs apple jalapeno puree and rosemary crumbs -well rounded flavors.
BFF
Salt And Pepper Calamari, Citrus Chili Dip -asian influence "loved".
Steamed Skate with roasted pumpkin seeds, spaghetti squash and soy-yuzu broth -good flavors again.
I'm really surprised by the lack of care in the kitchen. Both times the presentation was very sloppy. I actually took my napkin to clean the edge of the plate :) The decor is minimal beige and where we sat there was a employee to make sure the glass door shuts each time someone enters and exits.
This luncheon experience was Not Top of My List as far as Jean-Georges... I much prefer Kittichai, Spice Market, Mercer Kitchen or his previous resto 66. Way cooler vibe -guess I'm Downtown true and true.
man. kept looking for "almondine" for some reason.
went for a client lunch some time ago and had their 24.07 prix fixe meal. was seated next to huge party table full of "housewives of new jersey" type ladies. definitely made for good entertainment.
the food was pretty great. i had some type of fish. service was attentive, though i felt like they were a little too eager to please. it's a solid business lunch kind of place. if i had to plan a fancy meal for a personal occasion, i'd probably stick to someplace more welcoming and warm like gramercy tavern.
Ok, Jean Georges was one of my most memorable meals in Manhattan...I still dream about the garlic cream soup - it was also my first bite of foie gras - we're talking thousands of calories later, I still think about this meal. So when I heard he had a casual restaurant on the other side, I was sold and figured it would be brunch fare on overdrive.
I love eggs benedict - I usually order this at brunch and the reviews here were stellar - so I was excited.
I'm not sure if something happened because of the bad weather...like deliveries were off? Because when we sat down - we had our coffee and the cream on the table was spoiled. Really? I mean, Jean Georges is a Michelin starred chef and restaurateur - spoiled milk on the table is the last thing I would EVER expect. Of course, the coffees were replaced.
We ordered the bread basket - now I'll be honest, if I'm going to pay $16 for a bread basket, I DO expect it to be amazing, maybe even piping hot from the oven good. Alas (yes, it is dramatically awful) the bread was stale and dry - the pumpkin, raisin, sesame seed muffin was the best thing...and just to enforce how disappointed I was - we left a whole croissant untouched - and usually carbs fear for their life when I'm in the room.
The eggs benedict was good - don't get me wrong...but it was odd, one egg was poached well done, the other had a runny egg white - perhaps the person who makes the dish was iced/snowed in?
I LOVE Jean Georges - I'm one of those book-signing adoring fans. But if I had had experienced this meal as my first foray into his restaurant experience, I would've never looked back, so I hope (and I would believe) my experience was an anomaly...but it was definitely a HUGE disappointment esp at $40/person for brunch.
Nougatine is a renowned establishment in the Michelin rated Jean-Georges' restaurant empire. Jean-Georges is known for his daring combination of bold flavors and his ability to create a uniquely textured dining experience. His dishes play to all your senses; smell, taste, vision.
But chalk one up to the critics of restaurant week. There are no choices in the dinner menu though it does seem to change everyday so make sure to call ahead. You're might be better off visiting for lunch as that menu has a myriad of food choices. Either way, good restaurants at this caliber shouldn't be hit or miss.
Our meal started off with the chef's amuse, a shot of creamed fennel soup with a drop of basil oil paired with fresh crab meat over a crispy wanton skin. Already you have Jean-Georges signature texture. The perfectly crisp wanton skin with carrot brittle mixed into soft delicate crab meat. This all paired amazingly will with the creamy and smooth fennel soup which was bursting with the fresh flavor of fennel. Details make a dish and while the food tantalized my taste buds, the drop of basil oil in the soup wafted through my nose and I was in heaven. It was like taking in a breath of fresh forest air after the rain.
Unfortunately, things feel back to earth with a crash. The butternut squash soup had too much cream. The salmon dish that came out next looked visually stunning but was absolutely tasteless. The salmon lacked its natural sweetness giving me the impression that it wasn't all that fresh. I can cook up a better salmon dish any day. The beef was dry and the sauce overbearing. I wasn't a fan of the texture either; too much going on in this dish.
The dessert was a sampling of all their signature sweets. All good but each with flaws I couldn't pass up. That said, I am still definitely looking forward to eat at his namesake and flagship restaurant, Jean-Georges.
Restaurant week can be hit or miss in terms of what they offer you on the prix fixe menu. But Nougatine is definitely a place you want to go back to more than once. We went there for the $24 lunch and it was well worth it. Service is impeccable from the moment you enter. From friendly greeting and taking your coat to lowering the shades electronically when the sun is shining in your eyes. But believe me, you want some of the tall huge windows open to get great views of central park.
Normally on a prix fixe menu, you have to choose an appetizer, entree, and dessert. Here, you can choose 2 entrees if you so desire. I had the shrimp salad with champagne vinaigrette which was amazing along with the salmon which was perfectly soft and moist. The chocolate-peanut butter dessert with chocolate sorbet was also appetizing. Need to go back...there's so much more on their menu.
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