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Per Se
Category: Restaurants French French [Edit]
10 Columbus Cir(between Broadway & W Central Park)
New York, NY 10019
Neighborhoods: Hell's Kitchen, Midtown West
(212) 823-9335
- Nearest Transit:
-
59 St - Columbus Circle (1, 2, A, B, C, D)
57 St - 7 Av (N, Q, R)
7 Av (B, D, E)
- Hours:
Mon-Sun 5:30 pm - 10 pm
Fri, Sun 11:30 am - 1:30 pm
- Attire:
- Formal (Jacket Required)
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Garage, Valet
- Price Range:
-
$$$$
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- No
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Quiet
- Ambience:
- Romantic, Classy, Upscale
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
505 reviews for Per Se
Review Highlights
"Oysters and pearls was definitely my favorite dish."
(in 74 reviews)
"I heart Thomas Keller and love their service."
(in 69 reviews)
"The foie gras torchon with huckleberries was lovely."
(in 75 reviews)
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505 reviews in English
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Review from Christina C.
Fremont, CA
2/9/2012
What can I say about Per Se? Without a doubt, one of two of the most luxurious meals I have ever had. Thomas Keller is a genius!
I love their take on a tasting menu. 9 small courses, each consisting of a little piece of heaven. Definitely the type of place where no matter how weird the food may be, you know it's gonna be awesome, cause let's be honest, Thomas Keller food doesn't disappoint.
I also love the decor. Reminiscent of Keller's French Laundry in Yountville, but with it's own NYC flair to it. Plus, I feel like a diva in Per Se with the excellent service.
If I could get the money to come here again, whoo boy would I. -
Review from Meghan P.
1/29/2012 1 Check-in Here
There's not much to be said about Per Se that hasn't already been said in previous reviews. Everything that we ate was absolutely phenomenal, and I am somewhat fussy when it comes to certain ingredients, mostly things with strong overpowering flavors. I hate red onion, but I loved the red onion creme fraiche that was in the salmon tartare "ice cream cone" amuse bouche. I hate celery, but I loved it in my peekytoe crab "en gelee." I hate the bitterness of grapefruit, but it was toned down, incredibly juicy, and appealing in the shrimp tartare. Every ingredient was handled with such care, and each presentation was exquisite.
The attention to detail is most remarkable. The service is warm, and really does everything to make you feel comfortable and happy. The view of the park is stunning. When making the reservation, they asked if we were going for a special occasion, and I commented it was my fiancee and my 5th anniversary. They had menus printed up to say Happy 5th Anniversary with our names. They also included a special cake with chocolate "wedding rings" with our many desserts. Overall, this was the happiest and most spectacular meal of my life. -
Review from Lulu S.
Santa Clara, CA
1/29/2012
The French laundry in Yountville was absolutely the meal of my life. I was hoping for the sequel here and it just didn't make it to that level. Some dishes were to die for. The oyster and pearls dish was divine. Some dishes were very good.
The service was great but again not at the level of refinement at the laundry. And wow that was an expensive meal. Oy.
It's possible I was burned out on multi-course meals and having dinner with my work peeps and that perhaps tainted my review a bit. But I just can't go 5 stars on this one and I would explore other places whenever I get back to NY. -
Review from Pablo C.
Naperville, IL
2/8/2012
Cannot say anything except.....FANTASTIC
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Review from Maria R.
Brooklyn, NY
2/9/2012
Just WOW. Took my boyfriend as a birthday surprise. I won't go on about the service and the food and the presentation, everyone else has done before. What I will say is this: I am amazed with some of the negative reviews!
Look the reality is: if you are looking for something to hate, you will find it!
For those who complain about the price tag - everyone walking in knows exactly what the meal will cost. If you aren't okay with taking a chance on that, don't go! And, if you are looking to keep the $ down, they have plenty of amazing, reasonably priced wine by the glass.
If you want to go so you can play food critic and scrutinize every meal - stay home and cook. See if YOU can do better.
For some of the complaints I have seen about the restaurant location: TWC isn't a MALL. If they put this place in Manhattan Mall on 34th - sure, you'd have a valid point. But to complain about a spot that puts the dining room at eye level with the Columbus Circle monument.... how incapable of appreciating the detail can people get?
I'll remember the experience for the rest of my life. For anyone who says less than that - you have thoroughly missed the point. -
Review from Nhi H.
Sacramento, CA
2/4/2012
Melt in your mouth Foie GRAS...Caviar and champagne w a twist. Wish I can go here more often...unfortunately I am in CA :(...so will go to French Laundry instead.
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Review from Valery C.
1/14/2012 19 photos
As much as I attempted to seclude myself from press and reviews in the months of reservation strategizing, intending to moderate my expectations, it is difficult to be immersed in the New York City culinary scene and not hear the acclaim for Per Se. Unexpectedly, the idea of dining here began to unnerve me as the dinner approached.
Per Se's modus operandi, as outlined in their philosophy and menu approach, is to evoke an emotional response through every facet of the dining experience, and in every course that is served. As improbably lofty as that sounds, Per Se achieves it. The ambience was elegant, every staff member attentive, confident, and unobtrusive. Against this backdrop, the meal was a journey with every stop, from amuse bouche to mignardises to end, each a moment of brilliance that I doubted could be matched, until the next one matched it.
Describing the courses in detail would not describe their impact. Although there seems to be a short list of core ingredients on rotation, the preparation and accompaniments vary constantly, the menu re-invented daily. I am willing to believe the execution is invariably flawless. Silence descended with every course, each person lost in reverie. I suggested perhaps we were communing with the food, a comment made only half in jest.
My experience at Per Se was perfection. Until I went, I did not know such a thing could be realized. Whatever my expectations, Per Se met and exceeded them, and my view of food irrevocably changed. It is indeed worth it and deserves a place for rare, special occasions. But I will be back much sooner to dine in their salon.
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INFORMATION
The dinner options are two 9-course tasting menus, plus amuse bouche, house made breads, and an assortment of mignardises to end, currently $295 a person inclusive of gratuity. Their wine list (housed in an iPad) is extensive and expensive, with few bottles under $100; we selected a bottle of white and red for the table. Beer list is short but unusual; we started with the Brooklyn Brewery Blue Apron Belgian dark ale that is exclusively brewed for Thomas Keller's restaurants, a rich, complex ale. The libations were exceptional.
Reservations open a month in advance, available either by calling or via OpenTable for some tables. If flexible on date and time, there are often some openings on any given week. The dinner experience is at least 2 hours long, up to 3 - 4 hours. There is a dress code, although formal wear is not necessary. Their salon offers much of the dining room menu a la carte, and can be enjoyed without reservations. Lunch is also an option.Listed in: Tasting menus tours
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Review from Lorelei D.
Queens, NY
2/4/2012 1 Check-in Here
The service here was spectacular. I am still dreaming about the oysters and pearls, foie gras, parker roll and the langoustine with malt vinegar mousseline.
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Review from Todd A.
Manhattan, NY
2/8/2012
The views are awesome and the only reason to go. However, there are may other better restaurants in the area with Park views. Small portions with average food. Service was good
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Review from VKR N.
Boston, MA
1/30/2012
We loved every aspect of our dinner there. The food was great -- possibly overly salted on some courses, but generally stunning in concept, quality, and execution. But what was really memorable was the service. Kind, responsive, not obsequious, not snobby. Welcoming and warm. A significant cut above similar places such as Masa, where we ate a few days later. We considered the price we paid a bargain for the food, service, time, real estate, view, and interior decor (Keller spent $12 million on the restaurant). We cannot wait to return.
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Review from Michael W.
Schaumburg, IL
12/22/2011 1 Check-in Here
Overall a good experience, but not worth the cash, primarily because two of our courses were simply not good. The lobster was so rubbery and tough that I couldn't cut it with a knife, and the capon was underdone. A helpful wait-staff made up for it with an extra waygu serving but still, was expecting more...and even more.
There are other ways to spend $800 to be sure... -
Review from Cee B.
12/6/2011
My family and I flew up for my birthday and this was my surprise dinner--so beware, another gushing tourist review. Not that you didn't already know this, but get ready to throw down the Benjamins because it's $295/person for either a 9 course chef's menu or vegetarian menu...and that's not including libations and side items. Definitely four digits of a good time.
First of all, there's a whole reservation system in place where you have to call in about a month in advance. My mother said it required a lot of patience and up to an hour.
What a beautiful restaurant and spectacular view of Central Park. Half the time I didn't want to eat my dishes because I marveled at the impeccable presentation. The service was also knowledgeable and patient in answering all of my inane questions.
Honestly, I don't remember what all came at me that wonderful day, but I can say that everything was great, some better than others. I did enjoy the oyster and pearls with tapioca, oysters, and a dollop of sturgeon caviar. Served with a mother of pearl spoon. I liked the, I believe it's called, "chowda" and the butter-poached lobster with bacon.
As an extra, I ordered the foie gras terrine that came with an assortment of salts and toasty brioche. I probably ate about 10 brioches. They kept em coming.
I liked the S'mores although they weren't traditional S'mores, clearly, as they had caramel and peanuts. I felt like I had about ten desserts.
I also loved the little bag of cookies I took back with me to the hotel as if I wasn't already bloated like a Peep in the microwave.Listed in: Itchin' 4 Hell's Kitchen, NYC
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Review from Mark J.
Manhattan, NY
1/26/2012
Let me start by saying the service at Per Se is simply impeccable. It seams that the staff can read minds or body language, and almost before you think about asking for something such as more of one of there many butters or salts, they are at your side ready to help.
We went with a group of 8 and got there smaller private room.
The wine list has just about any wine one could be looking for. Want to drink a vertical of Krug from the 80's?? no problem! It just happens to be terribly over priced. I found several bottles we drink at a local ny shop for 80% less.
We started off with a some grower's Rose champagne, then moved a 1996 Puligny Montrachet, followed by a few bottles of Dujac. We ended the meal with a nice Sauternes, ans some more Champagne,
The meal was good, but not memorable like meals i have had at le bernardin. The Foi Gras, lobster stood out.
I would consider going back, but bringing my own bottles next time. $2200 for two people hurts when the meal does not meet your expectations. -
Review from Diana W.
To kick off our trip to NYC, my fiancee and I decided to splurge and hit up most of the 3-Michelin Star restaurants. This was also easily the most expensive meal I've ever had. The food was really delicious but I wouldn't say it was mind-blowing. However, with 15-20-courses (see below for more), it's definitely great to try so many things. Their service is probably one of the biggest things that I was blown away by. Okay, below are all the tedious details.
Reservations:
We were really lucky on having such an easy time scoring a reservation here but it's also because we came on a Wed night. First, if you're from the West Coast, call them RIGHT at 7AM (phone lines open at 10AM) exactly 1 month before. I was put on hold for about 10 minutes until someone answered and they offered me 3 times: 5:45, 6:15, or 9:45PM. I took the 6:15PM one. Good thing too because this meal turned into a 4-hour experience.
Ambiance:
Beautiful, classy, and super quiet.
Service:
Impeccable. This completely set the bar of amazing service that I still can't get over. They really make you feel like a queen. There were definitely moments that were over-the-top (i.e. they would come over every few minutes to switch your bread because they wanted to make sure you were enjoying your bread while it was still "warm". They switched it if you didn't touch it. They switched it even if you only took one bite) but I have never gotten service like this before. Amazing.
Food:
OKAY! BEST PART! There are two tasting meals (regular and vegetarian), both offered at $295. There are a few areas where you can get items for a supplement or make a choice but for the most part, it's just dish after dish after dish. Each dish was small enough so that you wouldn't be super full (until the end when you want to die). There's only 9 courses listed but if you count every single item that comes to your table, I'd say you easily get a 15-20 course meal.
The names are taken from the menu because there's no way I would have remembered all the details.
Gougères: Gruyère cheese and a sauce Mornay makes for a really small puffs to start off the meal. Bite-size.
Salmon Coronets: Apparently a signature amuse which is shaped like a mini ice cream cone and comes with chives and red onion crème fraîche.
"Oyster and pearls": Pearl tapioca with island creek oysters and sterling white sturgeon caviar. This was AMAZING. I almost licked my plate.
Foie Gras Terrine: A supplement for $40 that also came with a side of 5 different salts for you to try the foie gras with. This also came with a warm toasted brioche that they'd switch out every 5 minutes to ensure that you were always eating a warm one.
Sautéed fillet of chatham bay cod with baby leeks, beets, shallot, water cress and meyer lemon emulation: The cod was savory and all the details complemented the flavor really well.
Pan roasted Scottish langoustines with black mission figs, argula and black winter truffle: SO good. Savory just like the last one. The black mission figs were amazing.
Four story hill's farm chicken with heart of romaine, celery root, white grain mustard: Crispy on the outside, rich on the inside.
Bone marrow stuffed cipollini onion, glazed heirloom carrots with spainch puree: I don't remember this dish that well because I started to get really full at this point.
Apricot Belgian Endive: A small sweet course that was a nice change from the rest.
Dessert time!
Huckleberry sorbet with whipped lemon verbena and red wine: Very icy and light compared to the rest of the meal. This was great to start off the (many) desserts that would follow
Purple cow - grape soda, vanilla caramelized chips and grape sherbet: The theme was definitely purple but the grape soda was surprisingly really good. Nice combo.
S'mores - dark chocolate, vanilla marshmallow, candied peanuts and caramel ice cream - If you're a chocolate lover, this is a great dessert too. Not that you need to choose because there's only two options and if you go with someone else, you might as well get both :)
Chocolates - Probably one of the best dessert highlights is when the waiter comes around with a big box, opens it and reveals a plethora of chocolates, each with a different flavor. You can choose as many as you want and it becomes difficult as each flavor sounds better than the other. There's easily some 40 chocolates to select from
"Coffee & Donuts" --brewed cappuccino and Thomas Keller's signature donuts
An array of goodies including chocolates, macaroons, etc. --So delicious that I only got to each a little bit of each
Frozen Ice Cream Pops --Okay, totally not the name but this was super delicious
Overall, the meal was fantastic. I'm so glad that this was the restaurant that broke me into trying 3-Michelin Stars. The food was well executed and was delicious but it wasn't mind-blowing. Because of how expensive it is, I probably wouldn't come back (unless I got to eat for free) but it's definitely worth the tri -
Review from Felix Z.
CANAL STREET, NY
12/2/2011
This was a once in a lifetime experience. I would recommend at least going there once.
I took my girlfriend to celebrate our six month anniversary at Per Se because we have never been there. We arrived and were seated at the waiting area. A manager came out and having done some research on yelp, I asked for a kitchen tour. The kitchen was extremely clean. The chefs' attention to detail of their dishes made the dishes seems more like art rather than food.
They offered a truffle special for more money. There were a lot of dishes that you can get for more money. Some people might complain but you know what, if you are paying that much money to go there in the first place, stop cutting corners. My girlfriend and I ordered different dishes. We shared everything. The food was amazing especially their signature Pearl dish. Their chocolate was also amazing.
Service was good but comparable to more affordable restaurants such as 11 madison park. There was several waiters who fussed over us. Our every need was taken care of.
Overall, I got a taste of what the rich and famous like to do. I wouldn't do this every year but definitely would come back. -
Review from Caroline R.
Manhattan, NY
1/18/2012
Exceptional attention to detail. Amazing food, but this was not just a meal, it was an experience. New York has many top tier restaurants, but this is a favorite. Definitely worth the price and we'll be back. If you can't get a reservation don't give up, it will be worth it when you eventually get in!
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Review from Nathan M.
Austin, TX
12/6/2011
Amazingly good food, handled my post-proposal celebration very well and made the evening very special, including complimentary champagne upon our arrival and a tour of the kitchen at the end of the evening.
Look, it's expensive. Very expensive. It is worth every penny. The food is amazing, the interior is magical and the service superb. My only complaint is the amount of desert they bring you. It just keeps coming until you can't take any more... and then they bring you even more. -
Review from Jian H.
Jersey City, NJ
2/2/2012 1 Check-in Here
Overall great experience - just that we really couldn't finish the 9 courses plus a lot extra desserts/snacks ...
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Review from Vincent L.
Los Angeles, CA
11/7/2011
By far and away the best dining experience either my wife or I have ever had.
There's not much I can add to the plethora of reviews before mine, so I'll keep it short and sweet.
Get the tasting menu. Every dish is immaculate. And for those readers who aren't a big fan of seafood and delicacies (i.e., foie gras), don't worry. I never order seafood and am easily weirded out by foods, but I loved each and every dish. The raw salmon belly was particularly scrumptious, as was the hybrid-kobe steak.
The ambience was perfect. Many reviewers have commented that the restaurant is cold and modern, but I respectfully disagree. The dark woods, traditional chairs, and fireplace warm the place up. Add in the view of Central Park and I can't think of any place I'd rather be.
The service is impeccable. Not once was I made to feel like I didn't belong or that the restaurant was above me. Also, the waiters were extremely attentive and friendly. No complaints whatsoever.
At the end of the day, no matter what I'm eating, it's hard for me to say that any food is worth the prices Per Se charges. But when you add in the ambience, the service, and time spent there (a little more than 3 hours), I don't regret a single penny spent. I would definitely go again.Listed in: Top Restaurants
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Review from Cynthia C.
Alameda, CA
10/31/2011 33 photos
EVERYTHING was meticulously crafted and delicious. Down to the rolls, the PARKER house rolls, round domes of buttery, fluffy, doughy goodness.
One complaint I have, the only complaint is, the corporate feel of the dining room or even similar to a modern home, beautiful and perfect, but lifeless.
DO pick the cozy U-shaped booths, very intimate and cozy, great for people gazing.
Wine pairings are the price of the meal and the sommelier will get you LIT. It was the first time we've left half a decanter of wine on the table AND a few glasses, uh, he just keeps refilling and refilling. Good stuff. I like it.
Staff are professional, attentive and really warm.
Supplements are worth the extra dime. Get one and swap with your companion.
Sweets at the end of the meal are out of control: cookies, chocolates, choc covered macs, definitely get your hands on the macarons, itty bitty minis, prob out of the Bouchon bakery.
Gift: a little drawstring bag of homemade sweets, nougat, a lime twist, caramels and my favorite a dark chocolate w/a cookie, marshmallow and creme center. Tasted good even several days later back in CA.
This is one decadent flavorful meal, when the cheese course came out, we were already adjusting ourselves in our seats for fear of showing our protruding happy bellies. You won't go hungry here. What a memorable and fanciful evening.Listed in: Tasting Menus are my Passion &…, 72 Hours in NYC
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Review from Renato S.
Germantown, MD
11/2/2011 1 Check-in Here
Food and service as expected, the price though...yes and no. Before I get to the price, I must say I enjoyed everything about the dining experience from the friendly service to the gorgeous views seen from the dining room. The tasting seemed to go by quickly even though we were there for the expected 2.5 - 3 hours. Although the food seems like it came out very quickly when a course was finished, if it had taken more time between them we would have been there wayyy too long. My favorite dish was definetly the oyster and pearls.
We found the waiter to be very friendly, we mentined that this would be our last meal in the city as my fiance had just finished school, and would be moving. This fact lead to the waiter offering to bring us back to the kitchen for a picture following our meal as a nice farewell present. I know they bring people back every night, but seeing as we didn't mention anything about wanting to see it I thought it was very nice to offer.
As far the price, 295 is too much for the chefs tasting menu. If you're gonna charge that much, at least put a few more delicacies without charging a supplemental price. Fois gras (40 dollar supp) Wagyu Beef (100 dollars) I know the wagyu can garner a price this much more, but at least lower the cost of the tasting menu so some people can consider it. No way I pay 395 just to have wagyu beef in one course. -
Review from Jenny L.
11/3/2011
Finally dined at Per Se...and it was everything I expected and more.
The service - impeccable...everyone was attentive without being overbearing and actually had personality. Not stuffy at all, and everyone goes out of their way to make sure you enjoy your experience - from the second you step past the blue doors!
The food - really delicious and the oysters and pearls were my favorite dish by far. I could eat a pot of that. The rest of the food was amazing, interesting, and very unique...I knew to NOT expect to fall in love with EVERY dish - because everyone has a different palate, but it's the experience of tasting world class food.
The value - It is very pricey, and my only complaint is that the foie gras is not added already to the pre-fixe menu...if you wanted the best of the best of their tasting , you could easily spend 500 per person, since the wagyu beef was an additional 100 bucks!!!!
An amazing experience, and so glad that we were able to go to the kitchen at the end of the meal and take a few pics. They also boxed some chocolates and sweets, since we were so stuffed to even be able to enjoy the little treats. A fantastic restaurant, and it deserves to be the #2 restaurant in the country. -
Review from ROBERT M.
Nassau, NY
Updated - 1/7/2012 4 photos
My second time at Per Se and I must Say it is always a great experience. . Jin the Maitre d, along with Greg and the staff at Per Se made my visit and experience one of a kind, in a great way. Food had it's high and lows but never disappointing. The truffle courses were mind blowing and I can't imagine not having them again.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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1/4/2011
Words can't describe it!!!!!! Per Se is one of the greatest. Going to Alex in Las Vegas. Let see… Read more »
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Review from Simon L.
10/11/2011
Short version: Overrated. I was hopeful that this was the one restaurant that would live up to the hype. Plenty of people have described it as a food nirvana. I tried to keep the hype down. Sadly, I was still disappointed.
I will now go into explicit detail about why this was the case. You may disagree and feel that the money burning a hole in your wallet just needs to be spent but you won't be able to say you weren't warned.
(I also love how the NY times just wrote a review describing it as the "perfect meal." I...respectfully disagree.)
Service: It goes without saying that the service was superb. No complaints here. I believe they even added the egg custard dish as complimentary. If top-notch service is all you care about, then stop reading and head to Per Se.
Gruyere puff pastry - meal started great. Warm, soft, the salty pungency of the cheese blending perfectly.
Smoked salmon on crispy pastry cone - Others liked this more but I thought it wasn't more than what was described. If you want smoked salmon and lox, go to Russ and Daughters.
Oysters and Pearls Sabayon of Pearl Tapioca with Island Creek Oysters and Sterling White Sturgeon Caviar - The NY times describes it as a "poem about creaminess." Seriously? The caviar was actually a bit too salty and dare I say, a bit...much? It overwhelmed the tapioca, which didn't have much flavor at all. I was more amazed by the Mother of Pearl spoon than by the actual food itself.
Egg custard with truffle ragu - This was one of my favorite dishes. It's a simple dish but I'm a sucker for all things egg. It was creamy and the black truffle ragu balanced it well. The cookie sitting in it looked pretty but was a little stale to be honest.
Gateau of Hudson Valley Moulard Duck Foie Gras - This was a cold pate and had I not had an insanely amazing one in Spain at a very random restaurant, this would probably be number one as far as cold foie goes. The balance with the jelly is amazing and it is super creamy. However, the dish is still disappointing as the Bacon Brioche was practically inedible. No one ate it. (We were presented with a salt tasting here that I did not touch - everything was pretty salty already.)
Salad of Big Island Hearts of Peach Palm - The ingredients, in this case, say it all as there was very little cooking involved. They didn't particularly go well either. I'd rate this a 1 star dish.
Rouelle of Dover Sole - The best part of this dish was the crispy capers and bits of colored cauliflower. Sadly, the main part of this course - the fish - wasn't amazing at all. There wasn't any flavor and the texture of the meat didn't appeal to me. It was a flat dish. 2 stars at best here.
Butter Poached Nova Scotia Lobster - A nice piece of lobster tail with a piece of bacon on top. The bacon was decent enough but having had multiple lobster rolls in the past weeks, there was no excitement here. The lobster was slightly overcooked - making it quite the average lobster tail. I've had better. This was simply forgettable.
Diamond H Ranch Quail - This dish is an insult to Quail. The meat was fried on one side and seemed to have lost any flavor distinctions to chicken through the cooking process. It was served with what they called a quail croquette but was more like a meatball - a dry meatball. One star.
Snake River Farms' Calotte De Boeuf - The saving grace. I was getting pretty upset by this point but biting into this piece of ribeye immediately reminded me of why I live to eat. I've reflected on this piece of meat and can boldly say that it is the best piece of steak I have ever eaten. It combines the marbling of kobe beef with the flavor and character of dry-aged steaks in American steakhouses. Absolute perfection. Cooked perfectly. My only complaint was that the bone marrow served with this was excessive. It's like serving fat with fat and really didn't add to the meal. I think this is the only time in my life you will see me leave bone marrow on a plate.
Green Dirt Farm's Bossa - Cheese course in which no one in our party of 10 managed to finish the cheese. No one. It was pungent without being flavorful. The waffle served on the side was fine but not amazing. 1 Star.
Huckleberry Sorbet - I shouldn't admit this but I spit it out after the first bite. Some at our table thought it was "okay" but the sourness of the fruit at the bottom did not go well at all with the rest of the dessert. The NY Times recommends this dish - my guess is the reviewer lacks taste buds.
S'mores. Dark Chocolate Torte - A bizarre dish. Essentially it was chocolate fudge with random things scattered on the plate. The fudge was fine but the other bits did not fit well with it. I was...confused?
You also get chocolates and truffles at the end. But you pay the price. My strong suggestion is to save your money and spread your love to a few other restaura -
Review from Veronica S.
Fremont, CA
10/12/2011 1 Check-in Here
Dining here was truly an amazing experience. Although the ambiance is certainly different than The French Laundry (particularly, more sophisticated and chic, less cozy and warm), the stunning city lights view the dining room offers of Columbus Circle is still rather mesmerizing.
Also, another fun fact, you can do their tasting menu (prices have increased to $295 as of late) which includes 9 courses, but typically there are additional amuse-bouches, little desserts that you get to take home, and unlimited breads - all inclusive of service, too OR you have the option to dine a la carte in their salon - each dish ranges between $25-$46 or desserts priced around $15. If you are on a budget, opt for this solution so you can still taste Thomas Keller dining =]
Their menu changes daily, but usually starts with their signature "Oysters and Pearls" which includes caviar, then progresses into seafood, meat, and some kind of pasta/dough dish, ending with cheese & typically two desserts.
Ask to take a tour of the kitchen, if that interests you. Per Se is truly memorable, and a great experience for anyone who likes good food or fine dining. -
Review from Whitney J.
New Orleans, LA
10/11/2011 1 Check-in Here
Wow!
I was really afraid that Per Se wasn't going to live up to my expectations... but, it did!
All of the frustration of trying to get a reservation was worth every bit of effort.
Exquisite is the best way to describe this restaurant as well as worthwhile. Hands down, best service I've had to date and the food was definitely up there if not fighting for the number one spot.
Great spot for a date, an anniversary, shits-n-giggles, proposal, promotion, graduation.... no wonder I'm so in love with Stella! in New Orleans... Scott Boswell is occasionally tutored by the best!
Should mention: they don't do wine pairings but your service will be more than happy to assist you in your selections. -
Review from Mike C.
It's very hard to make a reservation here. They only accept reservations only 1 month in advance or less. So the earliest you can reserve is exactly 1 month before and precisely starting at 10am New York time.
Example: Want to visit Per Se on 9/4/11? You need to make the reservation at 10am on 8/4/11. Got it? Good. Training complete.
And after 30 minutes on hold, I managed to finally get that reservation. Dinner was fully reserved, so I had to settle for lunch. No biggie.
I came here for lunch and chose their 9 course meal but really it was like a 16 course meal. Probably one of the best experience I've ever had. It was pretty much up there with the Guy Savoy restaurant in Paris.
Started off with some complimentary cranberry Bean "Veloute" - Peekytoe Crab Beignet, Cumin Creme Fraiche and Jamon Iberico. Yah, lots of words where I don't know most of them. But it was good. http://www.yelp.com/bi...
Oysters and Pearls - Sabayon of Pearl Tapioca with Island Creek Oysters and Sterling White Surgeon Caviar. This alone well get your taste buds active and tingly for the rest of the your time here. It was nice and citrusry and with a slight zing to it. http://www.yelp.com/bi...
Hawaiian Hearts of Peach Palm - Naval orange, cherry belle radishes, Mache and Black winter truffle purée. I guess I got my salad fix for the day and this was the right amount too. Nice sweet flavors throughout every bite. http://www.yelp.com/bi...
Butter Poached Nova Scotia Lobster - Glazed turnips, watercress and Oregon Huckleberries. Nice fatty piece of meat. You should savor this one. http://www.yelp.com/bi...
Thomas Farm's Pigeon Pastrami - rye seed pancake, red wine braised cabbage, and thousand island dressing. I was a bit surprised that this was part of the menu. I'm not used to having pastrami served like this. But they made it into an art form and I'm glad that it was a small amount that they served because this too was fatty. http://www.yelp.com/bi...
Snake River Farms' "Calotte de Boeuf" - Squire Hill Farm's butternut squash, young onions, tarragon purée and Nasturtium Caper cream. Nice piece of meat. The sauce was savory and complimented well. The vegetables suited well too. Again, I got my salad fix. http://www.yelp.com/bi...
Hittisau - buckwheat crepe, seckel pears, broccoli, toasted hazelnuts and balsamic vinegar. Still not done yet. The food just kept coming. It was like a pre-dessert. Nice and sweet. http://www.yelp.com/bi...
Honeyed Plums - plum compote, honeycomb, whipped plums and burnt honey ice cream. This was my favorite. Nice and tarty. The honeycomb was full of sweetness. I did find a piece of stem in this dish. The server told the chef about this issue. http://www.yelp.com/bi...
S'mores - chocolate torte, vanilla marshmallow, candied Virginia peanuts and caramel ice cream. More dessert here. Who would of thought that they can make s'mores so much fun. Lots of chocolate, and lots of marshmallows. http://www.yelp.com/bi...
Again, still not done. There were more chocolates. Even some macarons. Yes, score!! And there was candy, buttermilk cookies and more chocolate.
Despite a fly hovering around my table for a bit and the stem that I found in the plum dessert, everything else far exceeded the level of performance compared to other restaurants. No wonder it is hard to get a reservation here.
And the experience doesn't end here. They even give you a bag of cookies http://www.yelp.com/bi... and a nice menu to take with you.
They only have 18 tables so reservations do fill up fast. I got a great view of Columbus Circle too. The lunch was a better deal in terms of ambiance, but either way, lunch or dinner, you're gonna get an awesome experience here.
Michelin 3 starsListed in: Macarons Prestige Worldwide, Oui Oui, Le Michelin
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Review from Ellen C.
9/26/2011 1 Check-in Here
Finally writing my review of Per Se (after a full year).
This is THE, MY, IT, most amazing restaurant I have ever been to or experienced. Of all the Michelin star restaurants (my friend and I hit up all the 2010 three star Michelin restaurants in NY in less than a week, which includes Jean Georges and Le Bernardin), Per Se just blew my mind.
We got reservations a day before for lunch, which was fine with me since lunch for 1 person for a prix fixe menu was $175. I'm not going to go into details about the food, or the ambiance since I really think you should go there to experience it yourself, but my experience just made me feel that the money was well spent, and it definitely didn't feel stuffy. The waiters, though polite and young, were extremely personable where you didn't feel like you had to act older or more sophisticated. The waiters and I talked about silverware and why certain foods and dishes were a certain way. It was really refreshing to eat 2.5 hours in a place that made you feel so comfortable.
My favorite thing about this place is that the food wasn't weird, or unexpected. When the food on the plate was placed in front of me, I'm sitting there like, "oh okay caviar..it should taste like this", however not only did it taste how I expected it to, but it brought out so much different flavors and curiosity in food that I never was able to imagine. The ingredients and flavors they use are so amazing and you can never pinpoint exactly what they used and how they make it. The dishes are presented so artistically, and the courses are very timely executed where you're not waiting for your dish or the dishes weren't being brought out too fast.
I also loved loved the ending...choose your own chocolates, and a dessert tray to eat till your fatty heart's content.
Amazing time. Would definitely go back to try the more extensive lunch prix fixe menu as well as the dinner menu. Amazing. -
Review from Pcp P.
La Cañada Flintridge, CA
10/30/2011 23 photos
Great comfortable beautiful decor and very professional and courteous staffs. I was actually going to give this one a 4 *'s, even though it's been the #1 restaurant in NYC. I changed my mind after trying their dessert. I guess that made up for it. :)
We made last minute reservation and thankfully someone canceled. It was a perfect place to eat when you're about to see the "Book of Mormon". I only have to dress nice once.
We had cape cod bay scallops, santa barbara sea urchin pâte grand-pere, sautéed fillet of chatham bay cod, long island striped bass "confit à la minute, herb roasted elysian fields farm lamb, four story hill farm's partridge, orange bitters and lots of great chocolates and macarons. I must say, that was the best pâte ever and go with the cod instead of the bass. The bass wasn't as flakey and a bit dry for my taste.
I must say that I wasn't as fond of the first waiter for our table. The guy that serviced one table over was a lot more attentive and detailed with his introduction. My friend said I was just being a dick, but seriously, the guy wasn't paying attention to us much once we seated. One of the waiters did make it up when he noticed that I didn't like my tea hot. He came back and personalize my iced green tea. That was cool.
I also loved the dark chocolate gelato and the 24 variety of chocolate flavors offered at the end of our meal. Oh, the pop corn sorbet filled was really good too. The capuccino ice cream was the bomb; it was hella great
Lastly, I love how they hand write your total check. That was a nice personal touch. -
Review from Tina L.
Fremont, CA
10/25/2011
The boy and I celebrated our 7-yr anniversary with a fantastic lunch here (also with a dinner at Le Bernardin, but that was such a terrible experience I'd rather not remember it).
There's no question the food here is unforgettably tasteful, so here are some non-food related notes:
+ My camera bag felt so fancy and loved during this meal - it got to sit on its own little stool!
+ Their drinks menu was an e-book in a tablet. TECHNOLOGY!
+ Best staff ever - professional but genuinely friendly.
Full meal report with photos at: https://www.facebook.c...
Okay, I'm caving... after actively trying to recall negative points I had read in Yelp and other reviews, I did feel that the food was a TEENY bit salty. My boyfriend loves dumping salt and soy sauce into his food so to him it was fine. Still, I wouldn't have traded this experience for anything else.Listed in: Chasing the [Michelin] Stars
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Review from Mika S.
Los Angeles, CA
11/11/2011
Don't fear fine dining.
You'd expect a fancy, schmancy restaurant like Per Se to be pretentious/snobby, instead it was all about taking care of people. I'm sold!
Pricey, I know....but I once read in "The Zen Guitarist", which said that too much food on a plate is wasteful and unappetizing and it's the chef's role to deliver the right portion of food" Price you're paying for is high quality goodness, all around.
Expect 4 hours of relaxing atmosphere, quiet and subdued with very soft piano live in the background :) This is truly a lifetime experience. -
Review from Jordan S.
Brooklyn, NY
10/12/2011
Reading Sam Sifton's last review inspired me to contribute my own Per Se experiences to the interwebs, so here it is. By the sheer volume of reviews, I hoped to keep mine to the highlights and as concise as possible.
Private Dining room. Check.
Starting off with a Manhattan. Check.
The wine list was an iPad, and yes we ordered a couple of bottles. Check.
Amazing Food. Check
Licking plates clean. Check
Attentive service, amazing staff and Sommelier. Check.
Killer view of Central Park. Check
That evening their was a double rainbow over the park. #winning
Ridiculous parade of desserts. Check
Tour of the kitchen. Check.
Pappy van Winkle to finish the meal. Check
Signing the guest book. Check. I told them I will be back.
And yes, I did get tipsy at Per Se. Good thing we were in the private room...Listed in: My personal faves
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Review from Casey P.
Alexandria, VA
10/5/2011
Ah Per Se, Will You Marry Me?
We were in New York for my good friend's birthday and like all of my good friends, she has impeccable (and very expensive) taste, so of course we had to check out Per Se. My friend is vegetarian, so she chose all veggie options, whereas myself and my carnivore friend chose a variety of meat dishes.
All of the food was delicious. I had never had a quail egg or sweetbreads before and both were my top picks (who knew I would like sweetbreads?) . We chose the 5 course lunch tasting menu, which is really more like 9 courses with the amuse bouche, the bread basket, taste bud cleansers and the variety of desserts (Can we say mojito chocolate?). I have no complaints about the food other than it was almost too beautiful to eat.
The view of Central Park was fabulous. The wine was fantastic and then there was the staff...
Christopher was our chief waiter and he was AMAZING!! (Christopher-Will you also marry me?) He was extremely knowledgeable and made us feel welcome although we were perhaps the youngest group in the restaurant (all in our 30s) and definitely the loudest. I would say that would be the one negative of the experience-you feel like everyone can hear you since it is SO quiet. Following the best lunch of my life, we were given a tour of the kitchen, which was cool enough to make us miss our train home (well that and the parade that blocked traffic near the train station) and the staff presented us with copies of the menu with my friend's name at the top and took photos of us. Very classy and all in all an AMAZING experience!
Yes, it is pricey, but you only live once, so just go and have fun! -
Review from Amelia E.
Manhattan, NY
1/19/2012
Having dinner at Per Se has been a long time dream...my boyfriend was kind enough to take me there for my birthday (he called them for days a months before my bday).
to me, the whole experience was wonderful from start to finish! They had my name and happy birthday printed on our menus, which was really nice (and I got a bday candle and cake as an additional dessert)
I had the vegetable, my boyfriend the chefs tasting menu and we both loved our choices. every course was totally different from the previous one and I couldnt say which one I like best. One had smoked cheese, which I am not such a big fan of, but it was still very good.
yes, it is expensive and you can very easily spend as much on drinks as you do on food. I looked through their 88 page wine list before we went and although most of them are in the hundreds and thousands, found some which sounded good and cost less than 100$ - got the sommeliers input on those and he agreed and was generally very helpful.
one cirticsm: we were only given "real" bread (mini pretzel sticks, mini baguettes, mini sourdough and mini buckwheat sticks) for I guess the third course before those breads they brought out a roll which looked and tasted like the one you get on airplanes - this one, however, came with six different salts and salted and unsalted butter.
we got to go into the - by that time, it was almost 1am - sparkling clean kitchen as well, certainly interesting to see.
bottom line: if you have a special occasion or some extra cash, its definitely an experience not to miss! -
Review from Robert C.
Cortlandt Manor, NY
11/16/2011
Was really anticipating this visit to one of the country's most highly acclaimed restaurants. This was a special event with a group of ten and we had a private room.
There were several aspects of this dinner that were decidedly unique and special - the orchestration of service between each of the nine courses was amazing! The range of tastes across the nine small plates was mind- blowing, despite the fact that one or two were not my favorites. It was unanimous that the liver was the #1 dish of the night. One of the best things I have ever eaten.
What was a bit disappointing were the wine pairings, including the selection for the liver which was totally over- powered by the food.
Overall an amazing evening, and one I will be sure to remember. However, given the gastronomically high price, not a rush to head back. -
Review from Steven S.
New York, NY
1/2/2012 2 Check-ins Here
One of my favorite restaurants in NYC. Yes its pricey. If your counting penny's, this place isn't for you. The food, decor, service... It really doesn't get much better than Per Se. If you've been there, you already know this.
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Review from Linda T.
Monterey Park, CA
10/26/2011
Per Se is absolutely amazing.... Everything about this place is perfect. The absolutely scrumptious food, to the amazing service, the gorgeous view of central park, what more can you ask for?
I can go on and on about each dish, but I have to say my favorite was the duck foie gras, totally worth the supplement price, there was a layer of carrot cake underneath the foie gras, with a hint of salt. The sweetness, buttery foie gras, plus salt, is a perfect combo!!! -
Review from Susie K.
9/5/2011
Was it as great as people say it is? Ehhh. Yes and no.
Was it worth the price? Nope.
Was it an amazing experience? Definitely!
The first 2-3 courses seemed to lead the dinner towards the best meal of my life, but after a while I just got really tired of it. I wish there was a touch of something else in it, Asian, Mexican, WHATEVER. 9 courses of VERY heavy French tastes get a bit overwhelming to your palate after a while.
But I loved the service and the experience they're trying to create for you because they know that you're spending a lot of money and therefore expecting a special meal. However, their effort seemed ironic to me because there are only 2 sets of menu per night (vegetarian and regular tastings), and that itself already takes away some of the "exclusive/special" feeling. You're sort of at a factory that just generates the same dishes over and over for the whole night and you have no personality when it comes to choosing your menu. And add the wine pairing on top of that and you're enjoying something that everyone else is enjoying there. That concept is very weird to me.
I do hear that the French Laundry is better than Per Se. Unfortunately getting a reservation at the French Laundry is close to impossible, so I never got to try. Per Se is definitely easier to get a table at. But that probably also makes it, again, less special.
I think I would love Per Se more if it was a little bit more fusion, but that's probably what Chef Keller was aiming for, at least for his top restaurants like Per Se and the French Laundry anyway.
If you do want to spend the money for a night that you can treat your special someone to and feel good about, though, then I'd say this place is great. If you want the food you'll remember forever, I'd say go somewhere else. -
Review from Rob G.
Bronx, NY
1/27/2012
Took my girl here for Valentines day last year. Its not really my kinda food but the tastes were definitely enjoyabale and unique. I would up spending ALOT of cash on the dinner but the girl was happy. Wouldnt go back.
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Review from Stephen T.
Manhattan, NY
9/24/2011
If someone were ever to come up with the acronym for the word, Trust, I'm not sure what every letter would stand for but I do know that the T would definitely be for Thomas Keller and the S would be for surrender because as cheesy as it sounds, when you go to Per Se, you must surrender all previous inclinations and thoughts and utterly and completely trust in Thomas Keller for Per Se, is the finest restaurant in all the land. The price tag may be steep but the experience here is priceless, even as I write this 3 hours after the conclusion of my 3.5 hour meal, I'm still smiling and giddy - it's simply the experience of a lifetime.
The food at Per Se is excellent. Every dish is prepared carefully and executed with immaculate technique. You can go on yelp or read critic reviews to see everyone's favorite dishes (mines were the cornets, the salad, the lobster, the sorbet, coffee and donuts, and the excessive amount of treats that they pile onto you at the end of the meal), but eating at Per Se is more than just about the food - Per Se is an experience where you leave happy because even though the servers are all dressed in perfectly pressed suits, ties, and the like, they're not stuffy and pretentious, instead they come across as friendly and eager to help.
There are millions of restaurants in the world, and of the restaurants I've sampled, Per Se is easily the best one I've ever eaten at. It's not just a restaurant, it's dining theatre and Per Se rightfully deserves every accolade and every star that it has ever earned.
