On a mobile device? Try our mobile site, optimized for faster browsing.
Categories: French, American (New)
Neighborhoods: Theater District, Hell's Kitchen59th St-Columbus Circle (1, A, C, B, D)
57th St-7th Ave (N, Q, R, W)
7th Ave-53rd St (B, D, E)
Mon-Thu. 5:30 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Fri. 11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.
Fri. 5:30 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Sat. 5:30 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Sun. 11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.
Sun. 5:30 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.
"This place is awesome.. Having a wood burning oven, an awesome grill, and an awesome rotisserie.. What's to complain about.. Food is…" read more »
Loading...
The lounge is my favorite spot here.. and the fact that many times I can get in the day of for the comfortable couches... and the best snacks in NYC....
It is everything they say...
The Best.
:)
My sweet boyfriend surprised me with a Per Se lunch for my most recent birthday and I have to say that it lives up to the hype. The food was delicious, yes, but the presentation was even better. Each dish was carefully assembled and then painstakingly explained to us by our ever-attentive waiters. The sauces for each course were not poured until the dish had been presented before us, so as to achieve maximum sensory impact. I swear that the waitstaff here is telepathic because they anticipated my needs (e.g. for a topping off of my water glass, for another bread roll) before I even vocalized them. They were also very gracious, letting me take photos of each course (what foodie could resist?), which made my friends and family very happy, as we got to relive the meal over and over, afterwards.
My favorite two courses of the meal were the "Oysters and Pearls" (if it were possible to put heaven into edible form, Thomas Keller has achieved that with this dish) and the "Terrine of Hudson Valley Moulard Dock Foie Gras" (so so good, apologies to my vegetarian sister who hates foie gras on principle). I'm not going to waste your time with descriptions because words cannot capture how utterly, mouthwatering, and heartbreakingly good this meal was.
Let me begin by saying that Thomas Keller is a genius! I now know that you can believe everything you hear about Per Se. It is every bit as pretentious as I had imagined it, but even more delicious. The amuse-bouche was the perfect bite to wet my palate with gruyere and begin my nuit francais. The fois gras was easily the best I have ever had, and I was with a frenchman who agreed with me.
The service was so incredible, yet not overpowering at all. They did not bother us, lift plates before we were finished, or allow our wine glasses to be empty at any point in the evening. I would recommend the 9 course tasting menu with the pairings. This is the best way to taste many things on their menu, and guarantees a full stomach at the end of the evening.
The oysters with pear, and scallops were amongst the dishes that stood out other than the fois gras which I am still thinking about. The deserts were mind blowing. I barely had room to taste the sorbet and truffles, but I heard that they were amazing. I enjoyed a new obsession of mine, sauternes.
The decor is stunning. They really don't need much with a floor to ceiling window overlooking Central Park from a birds eye view. The Time Warner Building, and Columbus circle is an amazing spot, not to mention central, for their restaurant to be located. No matter where you are seated, you feel elite.
Yes, you pay for it. The food, the decor, the ambiance, it is all a part of the "experience". It is also the most incredible restaurant I have ever been to in New York City, and an awesome place to impress a chick who's all about the full culinary experience (like me).
I'm going to keep it simple because I could fawn and sound like a foodie...a term I loathe.
Here it is: Yes, it's expensive. Yes, you have to wear grown up clothes. Yes, you will be treated courteously, but you won't feel like they're secretly making fun of you as you moan from the pleasure of the amuse bouche.
Oh, your bouche is gonna be amused, my friends.
Plenty amused.
My boyfriend is French so I had to suck it up and eat organ meat.
I didn't hate the foie gras. I might have licked the plate, I'm not sure.
All I know is, when I came up for air, my boyfriend had an amused look on his face.
Each course was thoughfully prepared and timed perfectly.
We didn't have to ask for anything.
You know how the waiter either hovers or is lost in the waiter-zone?
None of that. Our waiter actually cared enough to do a fly-by silently and unobtrusively, catching my eye when I needed him.
I offered up my first born child to him for that.
So, if you have the means, go and enjoy.
Amazing. Unforgettable. Complex. The place is expensive. The Chef tasting menu is is. Rating this on a value to calorie basis would be a .001 Star. Had the tasting paired with wine and it was good. Not nearly as detailed as Citronelle.
I based my whole trip to New York around when I was able to get reservations to Per Se. My friend had just moved to New York from San Francisco and since he never had the chance to dine at French Laundry, we decided he had to check out Per Se. The oysters and pearls were just as amazing as I remembered, service was wonderful, our lovely server even took the time to joke with us and then give us a kitchen tour after our meal. The wine was some of the best selections I've ever had, I'd go as far and say that all other wine has been ruined for me, but then again my friend and I really paid for that experience when our final bill came. Overall a lovely dining experience without the stuffiness that turns me off oh so much.
I'll start this review off by admitting I am biased. First had reservations in April of 2004, right when Per Se opened. Alas a kitchen fire put that reservation on hold. On hold until late May when I found myself in Prague while my friends gave my seat away to another of our buddies. "Best meal of my life." "The Kobe beef is the single best dish I have ever had." And so on. Fortunately, my friends being my friends, we went back in the summer of 2005 for my birthday. $451 later, we were done. Scratching our heads a bit -- no Kobe beef, the terrine of foie gras being decent but not amazing (oysters and pearls were great as was much of the food), a great but not once in a lifetime meal experience.
And therein lies my issue with Per Se. Food alone, it's right there with Le Bernardin or Jean Georges...arguably a touch better. Arguably. But Keller rode his name and the exclusivity of the reservation to jack up prices after opening, which in turn led to the rest of the high end city establishments taking license to do so as well.
So here's what I came away with -- a very nice meal, but one that has cost me not only the price of the meal, but has cost NY diners countless dollars with its entry into the NY dining scene. Should have stuck with French Laundry...but hey, I'm a capitalist so I get it:)
Seven courses, wine pairings, brilliantly knowledgeable service, serene setting....four of the most enjoyable hours I've known and I live a pretty cool life.
It's really silly to write a yelp review on a consistent 3 Star Michelin restaurant. I guess that I just wanted you all to know that I went there.
A lovely place to eat, interesting and well executed dishes although I have had better culinary experiences at one stars in Europe.
I loved the amuse bouches;light and flaky grueyere puffs with a fluffy, creamy filling and the cornets (Salmon tartar with sweet red onion creme fraiche). The Oysters and Pearls ( Pearl Tapioca with Oysters and Sturgeon Caviar) had a nice creme brulee type texture.
I was not too thrilled with the bread- the choices were fairly standard such as sourdough rolls. Two butter options- with or without salt. Might as well be take it our leave it... Not very exciting- at least incorporate some fleur de sel or herbs!
The duck fois gras terrine had a nice, light consistency accompanied by white wine poached appes and almonds although the toasted brioche that came with it was disappointing- it looks and tastes like a regular piece of wholewheat toast. It was dry and way too thick. the other condiments weren't much to rave about either.
I loved the salsify vegetable dish- it really tasted like it was just picked from the local farm. Surprisingly the quality of this one vegetable was my favorite part of the meal.
The cheese course was pretty revolting- I couldn't eat more than one bite; no one else in my party liked it either.
I enjoyed the kobe beef dish with trumpet mushroom and the fish was good but not memorable (can't even recall what it was!). The lemon meringue dessert was light and fresh, and the chocolate bars came with chocolate earl gray sorbet. Both well presented although comparable to desserts at Chicalicious Dessert bar.
Post dessert a three tear dish featuring chocolate truffles, nougats, and salty caramels came out as well as hazelnuts with cocoa powder and a few other candies; the truffles were luscious!
The wine list is impressive although they did not have the Lambrusco I wanted (in fact they had no Lambrusco). There were only three cocktails on the drinks list so I asked the sommelier for a surprise, all three were ok but it's obvious cocktails is not their strong suit.
I was given a tour of the kitchen which was superclean and organized, modeled after their French Laundry counterpart with a plasma screen showing what's happening over there. Thomas Keller was in California but I did meet Chef David.
Love the bathroom- never had to wait, very clean and full length mirrors.
Also received a slice of cake to take home as well as a giftbox of truffles. (Truffles were better than the cake).
I would be very happy to eat here anytime; I would, however, certainly not call it an ethereal experience. To summarize- Excellent amuse bouches,delicious vegetables and chocolate truffles. Bread, cheese, and cocktails disappointing.
I'm a little torn here, but Per Se still gets my five stars. For a 3 star Michelin, I expected every single dish to be absolutely amazing. They were extremely tasty, don't get me wrong, but not all of them were - knock your socks off amazing. Some of the dishes, I felt, were comparable to the food that I had at Daniel. My favorites were the duck breast and the sauteed fois gras. I savored every last fatty morsel :)
Service was most excellent and a real standout. I don't think I've ever had such amazing service. Even though we switched around our seating arrangement, the wait staff did a utterly seamless job of setting down the plates and cutlery to the appropriate person. Our waitress was friendly and answered all of our questions and gave us good recommendations. I also found the fact that tip is included in the prix fixe price very refreshing. The space was also great, giving an airy atmosphere that amazingly achieved a fancy look minus the snobbery. The view of Central Park is always a beautiful one. The little footstool they provided for my purse was a nice touch! :) We got the $175 5-course lunch with the addition of foie gras and some champagne. Sure, it was pricey, but I enjoyed it.
5 friends and I were lucky enough to score a last-minute reservation at this unbelieveable restaurant. From the moment we sat down at 9 PM until we finally staggered away from the table at 12:30 AM (!), we were served the most delicious combinations of food imaginable. In addition, no one was snooty at all -- the waitstaff cracked jokes with us and the sommelier was particularly funny. I can't think of anything that would've improved the experience.
Of course, this all comes at a price -- $275 for the prix-fixe meal. However, it should definitely be considered for that special occasion. You won't regret it.
Per Se...what more can I add that hasn't already been said? A couple unique aspects of our experience: 1.) They actually forgot to bring us our package of cookies after we exited the kitchen tour (gasp!). WE remembered, though. And, they didn't include any leftover truffles, caramels, or nougats in the package either. I really should have stuffed one more truffle in my face for the road 2.) We actually sighted Thomas Keller during our tour of the kitchen.
The other question that I didn't see answered in the last couple pages of reviews (though probably mentioned somewhere in the gazillion preceding reviews): What do people wear to dinner at Per Se? This may seem obvious to all you classy NY'ers, but I, for one, was a little unsure. The website stated that jackets are required for men, and denim/sneakers/t-shirts are not allowed. From what I saw, the men were mostly in some form of a dark suit and dress shirt, a tie here and there. For women, I saw a number of pant/skirt suits and little black dresses with pearls - nothing too out there, mostly understated and elegant. One pregnant lady came strutting in wearing a skin tight, off the shoulder, black stretchy number - but she looked great and was an exception to the rule. Lastly, the lighting was so dim in the restaurant that I could barely see the outline of my food, much less the subtleties of what people were wearing. Dress as if you were going to a nice, classical concert and it'll be perfect. Afterall, you are going to experience a symphony...of flavors :)
I'm torn on Per Se. It certainly deserves 5 stars here, that's for sure, but it's still difficult to justify a $1200 dinner, even for me.
First, the good... which is that it's almost perfect. The service is attentive but not overbearing, the food is absolutely amazing and the ambiance is incomparable.
But I really have to think that what you're paying for is the rent, not the food. Because there are any number of places (Daniel, The Modern, Gordon Ramsay) where you can get cuisine of equal or superior quality and service just as sublime for about half the price.
Is it worth it? That's an individual decision. The views ARE spectacular. And I wouldn't say no to another meal here, but I don't see myself adding this to my list of regulars anytime soon... even if I did win the lotto.
Being the drinker that I am and having a fine appreciation for open-space Napa-like decor and superb service, I had to try to discover whether there is a bar at Per Se. Indeed there is a lounge where you will be coddled, served, and even offered pillows and a pashmina (real, not the $5-"pashmina you buy on the street) for your comfort. The truffled popcorn melts in your mouth.
But beware of the prices -- averages of $20 and up for a glass of wine. I stuck with the more reasonably priced Moscato d'Asti and had a calm evening watching young and old couples dressed up for a "fancy dinner," while appreciating the relatively relaxed ambiance of the lounge.
It is only fitting that Per Se is my 360th review, since I have come full circle in my love for food experiencing haute cuisine at Michelin 3 star restaurants, waiting in queue for food from little known street vendors, and sampling everything between. I have had great food all over the world. But by far, the best dinner, the best dining experience I have ever had in my life was at Per Se. And while the food is unbelievable, it's even more about the experience.
The service was perfectly attentive as my server, the captain, and the sommelier worked in concert to provide my date and me a night we will always remember. In particular the sommelier's wine selections brilliantly paired with my courses. And not giving any regard to prices, I was shocked that the 4 glasses of wine that I had were fairly inexpensive. Also I was most impressed after the dinner to be invited back to the kitchen and see Chef Jonathan Benno in action. We were even allowed to have a picture of us taken in the kitchen -- a true keepsake.
The ambience was remarkable. The interior is elegant and yet understated. All of the seats face the grand facade that overlooks Columbus Circle and Central Park. As the sun goes down, the candle light at the table takes on a special character all of its own adding romance to the meal. The seating is very comfortable with plentiful pillows, and the flatware and stemware is among the best money can buy. Everything is stunningly perfect about this restaurant.
Our menu on Sunday evening was as follows:
- Amuse Bouche #1: Gruyere Puffs. Good quality cheese, but otherwise ordinary.
- Amuse Bouche #2: "Cornets" (Salmon tartare with sweet red onion creme fraiche). A whimsical play on Baskin Robbins ice cream cones popularized at the French Laundry. Who knew it would taste so delightful too?
- "Oysters and Pearls" (Sabayon of Pearl Tapioca with Island Creek Oysters and Sterling White Sturgeon Caviar). The caviar was generous, and this course was decadent and a wonderful way to formally begin the meal.
- Sashimi of fluke with pomegranate granita. A bonus course not on the menu. The pomegranate was very fresh and nicely complemented the excellent fluke.
- Bread Course: Parker house roll. The choice of butter from California or France was a nice touch.
- Terrines of Elevages Perigord Moulard Duck Foie Gras (Plum Jam, Compressed Endive, Celery Branch Ribbons, Apricot Kernel "Aigre-Doux" and Balsamic Glaze with Toasted Brioche). Perfect course. Extra brioche was brought out so that it would still be warm when we spread our pate on it. So thoughtful.
- Tartare of Pacific Bigeye Tuna (Confit of Cuttlefish, Roasted Sweet Peppers, Picholine Olives, and Arugula Vinaigrette with "Pain de Compagne" Melba). Fresh and delicious.
- Bread Course: Sourdough roll
- Scottish Langoustines "a la plancha" (Sauteed Summer Squash with Italian Parsley Broth). One of the best courses I ever had in my life. I have no idea how such a simple dish could be so remarkable. The flavor in that langoustine made me want to cry, literally. I know I could never recreate it myself.
- Four Story Hills Farm's "Poularde Cuite en Cocotte" ("Cuisse Farcie aux Mousse d'Espelette", Carmelized Globe Artichoke, and Braised Radishes with "Jus de Poule"). One of the few times I have ever enjoyed chicken in a restaurant. And the artichoke did not interrupt my wine selections -- I had a great sommelier!
- Snake River Farm's "Calotte de Boeuf Grillee" (Applewood Smoke Bacon-wrapped Trumpet Royale Mushroom, Crispy Bone Marrow, Brentwood Corn, and Green Onions with "Sauce Bordelaise"). Each individual item was amazing, even the corn. I loved the bone marrow. The beef was picture perfect and absolutely remarkable.
- Bread Course: Lemon poppyseed bread
- Burrata ("Melanzane alla Parmigiana" with Basil Puree and Armando Manni Per Me Extra Virgin Olive Oil 2007). Surprisingly authentic in preparation and flavors!
- Blueberry Sorbet (Blueberry "Flapjack" with Madagascar Vanilla Fudge and Blueberry Crisp)
- Mud Pie (Dark Chocolate Mud Cake, Liquid Caramel, Chocolate "Cremeux" and Caramel Parfait with Sassafras Ice Cream)
- Semi-freddo and donuts. Bonus dessert #1.
- Yogurt Pot de Creme with Apricot Jam. Bonus dessert #2.
- 3 Rounds of Mignardises
Is it worth the price? Eight hundred dollars for dinner is exceptional to be sure, but I have never truly eaten until I had dinner at Per Se. To magically transform common ingredients into artistic masterpieces that are functional and aesthetic is a talent. But to go further and bring to the foreground remarkable flavors that you never knew were there in something as simple as the langoustines dish, is almost religious in how it touched me. I am in love with this place, and I will never balk at the price of entry. I was made to feel at home here, and I will always be thankful for that invitation! Book now and you will see what I mean!
Best food in the world. Period. This is The Godfather of restaurants (McDonald's would be the Police Academy series).
I can't believe people can actually give this restaurant a 4star.. This is seriously as good as food can get.. This place will blow your mind grapes every time you dine here. You will taste flavors that you can't put your finger around, but you know you love. The menu is set and your options are limited, but that has never been an issue because every bite is so decadent.
Some may consider it pricey, but if you compare it to a restaurant like 11 Madison who charge at comparable prices, Per Se is hands down a winner by a mile..
Per Se is per-se-cution by food. In return for the two things that are typically in short supply -- time and money -- you are pampered with a surfeit of all things edible. In a setting that is unmatched.
Statistics takes its toll. Of the nine-course tasting menu, I could barely pronounce the names of five, enjoy three, and then remember a couple in my mind's eye--an inevitable regression of quality to a moderate mean. The narrower assortment at Daniel delivers more punch in comparison.
Reserve two months in advance. Starve yourself prior to the meal. Pace yourself during. And steal some of the leftover chocolates after. Strategy is everything, but be prepared to face execution at the hands of an overabundance of tastes.
Going to Per Se signals your extreme love for food. And for your company. But it would not speak well of your ability to recognize superior alternatives.
Ever since Per Se opened, I had longed to go there but I never did. It seemed a little intimidating and frankly I wasn't sure my palette would appreciate the food. After training my palette over the last few years at places like Gary Danko, 11 Madison, Gramercy Tavern and many others I was finally up for the challenge. Oh, yes, and an invitation made the difference to get me there. Without the invitation I probably would have still been waiting to go (THANK YOU!).
The anticipation had been building for days and I was a little worried that it may not live up to my considerable expectations and imagination. What a shame it would have been if my expectations, not reality spoilt the experience! Well, I'm happy to report that it was quite simply the best meal I have ever eaten and the whole experience was pure perfection.
The first thing that struck me as we walked in was the beautiful simplicity & classiness of the restaurant. The restaurant is furnished in a nice, spacious, bright, simple contemporary style in earth tomes with an amazing view overlooking Columbus Circle and Central Park. There are only about 16 tables and they are nicely spaced apart so you don't feel like you're having dinner with the diners on the tables next to you. Though I did manage to chat with the young ladies on the table next to me. Perfect!
Service was perfect too. Every single staff member from the moment you walk in is so welcoming and friendly. I had expected an aloofness and seriousness, but no - the staff are friendly and just smiling all the time. Anything you ask for is taken care of. It made me feel like they really cared about my pleasure. A special call out has to go to Andrew who assisted us with dinner. The best description for him is "dining consultant". He navigated us through the tasting menu and helped us select four different wines to pair with the different courses. All fabulous choices. He was friendly, a good conversationalist and throughout dinner he was close enough to tend to our needs. He really added to the experience.
The star of the show is most definately the food. Every course, and we had 9, was consistently good. From the first course of caviar and oysters follwed by the best foie gras I have eaten to the fish flown in from Japan (by Fedex) to the veal heart and tongue (don't knock it - amazing!) to the mud pie, it was all to die for. Everything had it's own distinctive flavor profile but it all seemed to fit together so well. Nothing clashed. I don't think my mouth and brain have had so many food ecstasies in a three hour period, ever! The amazing thing is that after dinner, you feel completely satisfied but feel like you've eaten just enough and not a bite too much. Did I say it was perfect!
I have to mention even the restrooms. Inidividual, large, bright and clean. Do they clean them everytime after someone goes in? Won't be forgetting them in a hurry!
So now that I've experienced what I consider perfection where do I go from here? Maybe a culinary tour of Michelin 3 star restaurants. That may be too expensive a habit but definately fun!
http://www.foodielifes...
Whoa. It's all it's cracked up to be. I wouldn't say it was my favorite dining experience of all time (atmosphere was a bit more stuffy than I prefer), but it's in the top three. We ordered the chef's tasting menu and paired it with several half bottles of wine. I was a bit surprised there wasn't an actual wine pairing, but our waiter and the sommelier did an excellent job with suggestions.
Service: Simply the best. So nice and attentive, and not the least bit condescending. When we raved about the South African white wine, our waiter returned two minutes later with a Per Se envelope containing the bottle label. Awesome.
Food: What can I say. So many insanely complex yet subtle flavor combinations. The perfectly cooked Atlantic halibut with heirloom carrots and celery "filaments" had the most amazing texture. Slight crunch of the herb crust giving way to the perfect toothsome fish flesh. The carrots and celery gave a nice acidic balance to the savory sauce. The butter poached lobster was also incredible. With thin sliced sunchokes and sitting on compressed English cucumbers, it was luxurious. My foie dish did not disappoint, either. Compressed nectarines and tiny Japanese turnips balanced against a perfectly seared massive hunk of foie, covered in an almond-duck jus. Mmmmm. Highlights of dessert was the sassafras ice cream that came with the "Mud Pie", and the colossal assortment of mignardises.
Ambience: Like I said, a bit more stuffy than is my taste, but the dining room is cozy, and the view of Columbus Circle and the park from the 4th floor of the Time Warner building is nice. We went early, and had a spectacular view of the reflected sunset.
It's definitely not for everyone. I'm not sure if I'd ever have had the opportunity if the bill weren't being picked up by a company expense account, but if you ever get the chance to dine here, do NOT pass it up!
We came here for lunch at $250 a pop ( without wine) a few years ago. It does have one of the best views of the city, very roomy and serene. When the food is this pricey your expectations are pretty high and it does not warrant these kinds of prices. Service was absolutely impeccable. The food was not particulary exciting or very interesting from a conceptual point of view. If you do go here and are a bit of a foodie, you will probably leave feeling ripped off. My parents treated me and they still complain about this experience to this day. Instead go to the restaurant at the Mandarin Oriental nearby where they have a prix-fixe lunch for $25 or so with just as outstanding of a room, view and ambience even if the selection is a bit limited.
A review update, with no rating change. That's what perfection is about, I guess. Consistency.
So anyway.
Buoyed by all this good news on the economy front, I put to rest my fears about the recession to rest and picked up the phone to call Per Se. Nagging doubts about the wintry economic weather prevailed as we were able to secure a reservation pretty easily. Hmm - running slow on the business, Per Se?
It was my boyfriend's birthday. As with the previous time, they seemed glad to see us without seeming artificial. This time we were seated on the (slightly) upper level. And the menus had the words "Happy Birthday" written on them. Yay!
In case you kids are wondering what we herbivores eat at these places, here goes. And not one dish was repeated from the last time we ate here.
We got the menu with the wine pairing, and everything was beautiful.
1] We started with the cheeseballs and the roasted pepper cornetto, which was deliciously juicy and crunchy.
2] Salad of Heirloom Beets - Marinated young fennel, blood orange, and angostura bitters gelee.
Definitely one of my favourites! This looked so pretty it broke my heart to eat it.
3] French White Asparagus - Sunnyside up and garden vegetable mache.
Perfectly done egg and perfectly cooked asparagus.
3] Tamari-glazed abalone mushroom - Purple top turnips, asian pear and broccolini florettes
Melted in my mouth before I realized it! Brilliantly executed.
4] Russet Potato Gnocchi - with split peas.
One has to eat this dish in slow motion. Just, suck on the gnocchi for the butter that oozes out, and then bite in. Close your eyes, and enjoy the ride. The peas were a lovely touch!
5] Fava Bean Agnolotti - Castelvetrano olives, garden basil and olive oil.
The largest portion of the meal - I loved it but I was so full I could hardly finish it.
6] La Serena - Cheese with pickled caulflower, almonds and parsley, balsamic vinegar.
My least favourite course. I think the dish was a tad excessive on salt and it was lacking some fruit to balance the taste.
7] Buttermilk-thyme sherbet - poppy seed cake, poppy seed caramel.
Yes, I needed the palate cleanser.
8] Dessert - Spiced coffee cake, granny smith apple chip and jasmine ice cream.
Coffee and jasmine are such an unusual pair, and it was fresh and sensuous to smell both at once. The boyfriend loves coffee and I love jasmine. Perfect.
9] Now come plates and plates of chocolates! Polish them off and save some to take home.
Yes, this time we got the kitchen tour! Definitely ask for it.
Am I returning again? Ummm...... :)
Being vegetarians, my boyfriend and I often find ourselves constrained for choice in most… Read more »
Holy shit. There are no words to describe this place.
Best part of the meal was a menu staple- Island Creek Oysters with Sacramento Valley osetra caviar in Tapioca Sabayon. Amazing, amazing, and I love the little mother of pearl spoons. While everything was amazing, I swear, I never tasted anything like it.
I ordered the rigatini black truffle supplement and adored it. I found the tableside presentation delightful ("See for yourself, miss, black truffles!") Love the elegant truffle box, beautiful. I thought it was cute that they shaved the truffles right in front of me (VERY generous portion.)
Honorable mentions go to the Gruyere gougeres and salmon cornets with red onion creme fraiche. I have already ordered a French Laundry cookbook and will be attempting to recreate these in my own kitchen.
Adored the cushy little stool that appeared just for my purse. I dislike it when they insist on escorting patrons to the restrooms. Can't a lady pay a visit to the porcelain goddess without announcing it to the whole restaurant?
Anyway, since it was costly (vast understatement), I'm pretty sure I won't be back for a while. For a LI-bred, Queens-born girl, all fine dining experiences seem to be half ridiculous and half sublime. By the way, the fact that this place is in a mall above a Bebe and a Coach kind of adds to the hilarious factor. Go figure.
An excellent restaurant to say the least, however French Laundry was a much more memorable dining experience. Don't get me wrong the food was unbelievalble, but we didn't have the same reaction that we did at the French Laundry. I feel bad for giving this restaurant only 4 stars, but there is no option for 4.5 and i do feel that it was a step down.
I wanted my 200th review to be of an extraordinary establishment (and an extraordinary meal) and Per Se more than fits the bill.
Per Se really blew me away. Every little detail of our dinner was perfect and I can't think of anything that I would have done to make it better. Our server was beyond amazing. He was incredibly helpful and friendly, making both my boyfriend and I feel completely comfortable and welcome as soon as we were seated. He even took the time to come over and point out a rainbow that had appeared over Central Park. It was almost too perfect, and for a second I actually found myself wondering if Thomas Keller had something to do with it. Crazy, I know.
Each and every course that came out of the kitchen was incredible. The gougeres filled with gruyere cheese melted in my mouth. Delicious! The oyster and caviar course was really something special. I'm not usually a big caviar fan but this dish made me a believer. The adorable (and tasty) bread tray with two different homemade butters was fantastic.
The foie gras was amazing as well and was definitely worth the $30 supplement. I'm sorry, but if you are complaining about paying a $30 supplement when you are already dropping that kind of cash at a restaurant maybe you shouldn't be there in the first place.
The highlight of the meal was definitely dessert. It just kept coming and coming. Strawberry sorbet with pistachio panna cotta, then a miniature creme brulee and a pot de creme (not on the menu), then the main dessert course, then a tray of chocolates, a dish of miniature sugar candies AND a 3 layer tower of caramels and more chocolates. Yes, I'm serious.
We were presented with financiers (with a Per Se ribbon) before we left, and the hostess gave us a Per Se embossed bag to carry them back to the hotel. Our check was even handwritten on a Per Se note card which ended up being a nice little souvenir. Those financiers came in handy on the flight home... way better than peanuts!
If you have the opportunity to dine at Per Se, just go for it. This was the best dining experience I've ever had. Perfection.
Wow. This place is breathtaking. I can barely even describe the seemingly endless dishes we had. Each one was so creative, fresh, layered in flavor and carefully and precisely prepared. The delicate dishes leave you wondering whether that was food or art that you just ate, but it doesn't matter because here come the waiters with another surprise for you. Everything was absolutely top knotch here
The service was polite, professional and, believe it or not, friendly. From time to time you'll get such fancy service that it's uncomfortable. The servers here gave little quips back to my father's uncomfortable jokes (thankfully) and described all the dishes in layman terms when necessary. The wine service was impeccable, making suggestions both within our budget and taste. Their help was certainly appreciated being that the wine list is over 50 pages of outstanding wine houses.
The view is beautiful and this would be the perfect place to take someone for a very special occasion. I hope I'll have the opportunity to go back at some point to try a different selection of art, I mean dishes.
All i have to say is that you better adore the person you are eating at Per Se with because it is their face you will be staring at for 2.5-3 hours straight! The BFF & I found it hilarious & ironic that we were going to a fine dining French restaurant, basically, in a mall. When we got the bill for $780, my BFF whispered to me, "Mall food is expensive!!!"
We decided on the nine course tasting menu which consisted of:
- an amuse bouche of cheese bread and whipped smoked salmon.
- oysters & pearls with caviar
- mushroom salad for me, foie gras for the BFF
- a fish dish (i can't remember what kind of fish)
- duck with plum sauce
- scallop with mustardy emulsion
- beef tenderloin
- cheese course with eggplant "lasagna"
- plus we had a glass of Riesling each (very dry, very delicious)
And then came the desserts, which was a never-ending array of sorbets, chocolates and tiny creme brulees & creme de pots. My favorite part was when our waiter came over with that heavy metal can with drawers & drawers of candies and truffles and nougats (OH MY!) I sat there and gorged myself on these sweets and just when I thought the food-a-thon was over, we are given chocolate almond pistachio apricot cookies TO TAKE HOME so the madness can continue! The BFF & I agreed- if a restaurant is giving you something this beautiful and delicious to take home for free, they know that you know that you paid way too much for lunch!
But seriously, folks, the service was perfect. Our waiter appeared happy to be helping us. He made us feel very comfortable as we slid into our booth looking out over Columbus Circle. For an upscale French restaurant, Per Se is not stuffy at all. It was a wonderful, classy way for us to spend an afternoon at an NYC institution. If you've got the time and extra cash on hand, it's an experience not to be missed.
This was an annoying review to write, because at this point I do not know if I'm broken or if it was my experience at Per Se.
We had the 5-course "lunch" tasting menu. Many of the dishes were totally average. For example, the tartare was flavorless and the pork chops were so disappointing that I didn't even finish it and neither did my friend. The salmon cornet was amazing and likewise the "cheese ball". The dessert was "tasty" but not mind-blowing.
Service was generally perfect and not too snooty. They were quick to keep my water full and offered generous treats at the end. They didn't balk at my 5th cup of coffee either.
So, question is, am I just an unrefined loser who spends too much on food or did we have one of those "off" experiences here. Perhaps we should have went for the 9-course menu instead of the 5?
At the end of the day, I'm not sure, but I won't be coming back here before I try French Laundry and some others. If I find those to be average, then I'm just going to put away my Amex and stick to hole-in-the-walls from now on.
Also, if I paid $75 for this meals instead of $175, then I would have given it 4 stars -- especially for the service. At $175, I don't feel like I got that much value out of it.
It has been a while since I have been to this place.
Anyone should try this place. The view over looking Columbus circle is gorgeous and the food is not bad from all that I can remember.
It is a little hefty for this place to command a three hundred dollar price tag tho even tho they let you carry away the daily tasting menu and a little fancily wrapped up dessert in a pretty little bag to go. I would definitely go to L'atilier at the Four Season if I want to try something fancy.
Flawless service and a great dining room overlooking central park couldn't overcome food that was, excluding the heavenly oysters and pearls starter, a bit boring given the high price point. Perfectly prepared rectangles of lamb and the chicken were memorable for being completely unmemorable. The foie gras was tasty but possibly the most generic preparation of the item I've ever had at a fine dining establishment and it actually cost an extra 30 bucks, pushing the tasting menu up to $305 a pop not including wine. Got no problem paying this much at a Michelin three star restaurant, (done it several times in France) but I expect some pretty mind blowing food when I do so and at Per Se it felt like the chef was playing it safe. Also I could have used a cheese cart instead of the uninteresting preselected bits they pushed on us. I'm a big boy. I can pick my own cheese. Overall preferred the tasting menus at Le Bernardin and Picholine which were considerably less expensive.
Having gotten all of my whining and complaining out of the way, I should reiterate that the service and atmosphere were perfect and that the food, though boring, was also perfectly prepared and perfectly presented. Perfect is the operative word when describing Per Se. In a sense Thomas Keller achieved the platonic ideal of fine dining. I definitely encourage anyone looking for that perfect dining experience to give it a try but if you're looking to wow your taste buds check out some of the other NYC restaurants first.
I came here with my mom and my brother and had the most unforgettable dining experience.
You choose between two tasting menu's, and can supplement certain items (for instance we don't eat pork, so the waiter recommended we supplement the pork for this amazing steak dish)
Sure it's a really expensive restaurant, but keep in mind you are paying for not only the extremely incredible food, but also the amazing ambiance, and hands down the best service my family has ever experienced at any restaurant in the world.
Bonus we got extra deserts!!! (make sure to ask your waiter about the donuts and coffee desert they make, it's the best ever!!!)
If you ever read professional reviews they always rave about Thomas Keller and his flagship NY restaurant, Per Se. Don't get me wrong, it is a great experience in fine dining, but the fact that after all the build up it only lands 4 stars should be telling.
A meal at Per Se is a complete experience. The nine course tasting menu is one which any Michelin restaurant would be proud to display.
The reason it only lands 4 stars is because:
(1) It wasn't above and beyond any of the other true fine dining experiences I've had. It was great, not amazing.
(2) Despite the fact that we ordered the tasting menu the staff was a little rude. It seemed as though they felt they had "bigger fish to fry".
This leaves me to conclude that Per Se targets which customers they will "kiss up" to.
If you're reading reviews of this restaurant, chances are you're a foodie trying to justify the second-mortgage-caliber price. Either that, or a non-foodie who's looking for entertaining reviews of what is supposed to be the #1 restaurant in NYC.
Short and sweet version: the best meal, ever. Period. At least until we hit French Laundry in July. :)
We have eaten at some pretty outstanding places in our time, so expectations were unreasonably high, especially given the price. I was legitimately concerned that with such expectations, it would come off as only a B+ caliber experience.
I gave up trying to compare the meal to my expectations after the first course, and just gave in to the experience.
It's difficult to take negative reviews seriously unless they happened to have an unthinkably "off" evening, or are looking to demonstrate eliteness by criticizing the exceptional. From the view, to the personalized menus, to the service, to the food, this is an experience that is a bargain at any price.
Best Surprise: The 77-page wine list had some reasonable options that tasted wonderful, and I did not feel out of my depth perusing it.
Worst Part: I did not take nearly enough pictures. If I had it to do over again, I would gladly risk the mockery of fellow diners to capture each course on film.
The best things in this world are not always the most expensive. But there are times when the most expensive things are the best in the world.
This was one of them.
Let me just start with: I've eaten at a lot of amazing places out there. Le Bernardin, Chez Panisse, Le-Bec-Fin, Alinea, Yasuda, to name a few. Each place had its own character, and wowed me accordingly. Because I hadn't heard anything from my immediate circle about Per Se, I didn't really know what to expect. Perfection, I suppose. And wonderful, gracious service. Sadly, I was underwhelmed.
The food was good, of course. But absolutely nothing from the multi-course menu blew me away. The first entree, actually, was so unpalatable to me that it remained in front of me, untouched, until the waiter noticed and offered me something else. Everything that followed was edible (except the cow brains that Porkchop ordered, yuck), but absolutely nothing stood out as WHAM-POW-IN-YO-FACE-DELICIOUS. And that SUCKS, considering the $275 dinner and $140 bottle of HALF WINE. Wine is another story. Porkchop and I like Barbera, we're pretty sure of that. But the Barbera we had here was vinegary and acidic. The sommelier worked with us to find something else we liked, and was polite enough about it.
Our waiter was a teeny bit rude. He didn't like us much, but did a good job of hiding it, for the most part. At the end, I was sad about not being able to finish the yummy chocolates and candies, which were hands-down the best part of the meal, and I asked him nicely to pack them up for us. He assured us he would, but we noticed when we got home that he omitted the chocolates. It may sound like a ridiculous request, and I wouldn't have done it if we weren't paying so much for the meal, but come now, people deserve to be a little finicky at a place like Per Se.
With so many other dining options, I won't be returning.
HOLY SMOKES! THIS PLACE IS UNREAL It is a true dining experience. The food! The staff! This is a huge treat and yes you are worth it ! Go here! I think this is one of the best rest in the world. I have been to them all!
Wow! Its lovely, and the staff is so nice , they make you want to move in ! Its just incredible! Congrtaulations to Per Se for knowing how to create a true beautiful dining experience , that you want to share with everyone youve met!!! Thank you ! I love it everytime I come in....Especially when I have to impress, wow do you do it up! It starts at the door. At they are so classy and so comfy....its great , go , at least once to have this experience!!!
The best dining experience I've ever had. It's not just the great food that makes this place what it is, but the personal attention and care that is lavished upon the diner by everyone from the wait staff to the chef. My significant other brought me for an anniversary, and Per Se printed menus wishing us a happy anniversary. The chef built two elaborate and quite different tasting menus for us based on our requests, including an vegetarian one for me. The food was three hours of bliss: every piece fit together perfectly.
:: Per Se::
This will be my first ever yelp entry and what better way than to review the highly revered Per Se. The man behind this restaurant, Thomas Keller, who many considered to be one of the best chefs in the world, has established a staple of using ingenious culinary techniques to emphasize and merge flavors using only the freshest local ingredients. The menu changes daily, ensuring that every dining experience will never quite be the same.
Located in the beautiful Time Warner building in Columbus Circle, the entrance of Per Se has an inviting lively foyer accentuated with plants and vines, but what captures your attention are its bold blue doors that subtly states the fact that this is no ordinary restaurant. As you enter the dining room, there is a spectacular view overlooking Central Park. Our hostess seated us on the middle of the second tier so that nothing would obstruct out view of the park, but also allowed us to have an elevated view the whole dining room. Clearly, this was one of the best tables in the room, and it was surprising to see that they had placed us at that table. Being four young professionals, a moment of grandeur was felt as we sat down amongst the elite individuals of New York City. Not everyone is fortunate enough to dish out $300 a meal each just for dinner, and that is not including the wine.
The first piece served was their famous salmon cornettes. Inspired by an ice cream cone, the corn cone filled with crème fresh and a scoop of a tart salmon tartar, is a genius method in starting a meal with a dessert-like appetizer. I wanted to eat 20 of them, but the anticipation of the next meal kept me intrigued. Another staple dish to the restaurant, oysters and pearls, followed as our second course. The rich and creamy buttery sauce that bathed the oysters was accentuated with tapioca pearls that added a hint of texture while the caviar pearls exploded a pocket of an exuberance taste with every bite. The play on your taste buds continues on with each and every course. For example, there is no other place that I have been to that gives you a tasting of 6 different salts along with your dishes. You get a choice of an exotic salt from the depths of a cave located in the Mediterranean to another type of salt that is supposedly thousands of years old. The service is outstanding and each course satisfies a taste of nostalgia that is indescribable with words. The only thing you can muster to say to one another is "wow, this is good." Completely over saturated with food, there is such an euphoric feeling that paying the exuberant bill comes with ease because no one can put a price tag on tasting a piece of heaven.
Luckily, Thomas Keller was present at the restaurant, so we asked our waiter to see if we could meet him. To our great surprise, Chef Keller came out, greeted us, and invited us back into his kitchen. For being one of the best chefs in the world, his generosity, approachable attitude, and great humility are very admirable traits that can also be seen carried throughout by all of his entire staff. A 3 star Michelin rating and a 5 star New York Times review do not suffice when you just had the perfect dining experience capped off with meeting Thomas Keller himself, truly once in a lifetime experience.
There is nothing I could say about this fantastic place that hasn't already been said, so instead I will review the people who were using their mobile phones.
Presumably this is a special occasion place. You come here to propose. You come here to celebrate. You come here because on the X-thousandth occasion of your wife mentioning how much she'd like to go there you finally get the hint. So, you sell 30 shares of Exxon and make reservations two months in advance.
This place is a complete experience from the moment you're greeted until the moment you receive the bill and stagger out in a state of shock. The service is unparalleled and the food is exquisite.
So you would think you might - just once - put the phone away.
Our starter was someone who I kept calling Ralph Fiennes because he looked a lot like Ralph Fiennes. He was on his mobile phone for more than half his meal. He had an attractive exterior but I felt his soul was a bit lacking and his manners were too salty. He had the wherewithal to keep his conversation quiet, as if muttering to a mistress, but that doesn't change the fact that rather than experiencing Per Se he was working on growing a brain tumor. I hope when they returned home his companion denied him sex before setting him on fire.
For an entrée we enjoyed the couple pre-occupied with texting. Perhaps they'd asked the baby-sitter to deliver a play-by-play on Twitter. Barely a word was muttered between them. Ultimately I found they lacked substance and left a bitter aftertaste.
For dessert there was the guy who doesn't know how to turn his ringer off. He was uninspired and pedestrian.
I would definitely come here again, preferably when the stock market bounces back and manner-deficient humanity is wiped out by a megavirus.
i took my boyfriend here for lunch as a surprise for his birthday and i expected an AMAZING experience with delicious food.
Pros:
-i still dream of the salmon cornet and the coffee and doughnut dessert.
-i loved the 24 carrot farm rabbit dish.
-we had an amazing view of central park.
-every single person wished my bf a happy birthday, printed a customized menu for us, and put a candle on his dessert.
i expected to at least remember the experience in a bit more detail, but i don't. the only reason why i can tell someone what we had for lunch is because i have a print out of the menu. i went in expecting a lot of amazing food, or at least really good food, so i could stuff my face and leave happy. but i just left stuffed and a little broke.
It's not enough to say this place is elegant, classy, blah, blah. It blows away all of those words. I was there with a group from work and I felt like royalty, though there was a royal bill at the end.
The tasting menu was exotic but not weird, the service (and amazingly knowledgable staff) was attentive but not overbearing, the atmosphere was fancy but not overstated. Seafood that makes you want to weep when it's gone. Oh, dear goodness, the desserts. Different types of bread and cross-country-sourced butters... even three types of salt from around the world. Oh, they know how to do it up.
I felt welcomed the moment I got there and felt like I was still being paid attention to even when I was walking out the door.
Make Your Own Bloody Mary
Neighborhood: Williamsburg - North…
Happy Hour !
Neighborhood: Long Island City
Neighborhood: Midtown East
Category: French
New York, NY
Category: French
Neighborhood: Theater District
Category: French
Neighborhood: Theater District
Category: Sushi Bars
Neighborhood: Theater District
Category: Seafood
Vegetarian (or veg-friendly) places in New York…
Some of my favorite dining destinations in the…
A Thomas Keller food tour that takes me to ad hoc,…
When you're looking to go all out and don't want…
Some of my favorite dining destinations in the…
Luckily, I've experienced more hits than misses…
Some of the places I've had memorable meals, not…
Apparently I have a reputation on Yelp for being…
