NYC restaurants

Although Jean George just recently lost its 3rd star I’d highly recommend the experience.

Eleven Madison Park just recently reopened. so if the menu suits you I’d suggest attempting recommendation as far in advance as possible.. and let’s us know how the $24 coffee is

I had one of the best meals of my life at Le Coucou.

Agreed. It was about $500 per person after tasting menu, wine pairing and tip for Le Bernardin

Dang, I was thinking 500 for 2 people. I may have to rethink or go at lunch.

Well, you don’t have to get the tasting menu and wine tasting. We went for everything they offered since we don’t do that sort of thing...ever. And figured it would be fun to do something like that once. It was the most expensive.

A regular entree and a glass of wine or two would be considerably less and under $500 total.

Go to Le Bernardin. Get there when they open and sit at the bar. If you're with a date, split a tasting menu. They will do that for you, it's enough food and it keeps the cost down. I think it's consistently the best restaurant in New York. The lounge/bar doesn't take reservations, but it makes Le Bernardin the most accessible Michelin three star restaurant in NY (if not the world) simply because you can walk in and sit down and order off the main dining room menu. The alternative is calling two months in advance or whatever to hope to get a reservation. I used to eat lunch there regularly in the lounge because it's accessible. Having said that, if you are with someone, sit at the bar because most of the tables in the lounge have these brutally uncomfortable chairs. It's my favorite restaurant, and I don't even really like seafood. Every meal I have had there, and I've had dozens, has been perfect.

If I had one place to choose I would go with Le Bernardin.

So just a general question. When you do a wine pairing is it just one glass of wine per person for the entire tasting menu? I’m assuming the sommelier picks the wine for you?

Generally they will do a wine with each course. But let me make a suggestion. A sommelier at a really good restaurant absolutely loves to help people out who may not know a lot about wine. If you talk to them and tell them what you want, just 2-3 glasses or whatever, and how much you want to spend, they will probably work with you to get you something you will enjoy and something you feel comfortable with. I drink a lot of wine but I almost always talk to the sommelier about what I'm going to eat, what they think and what I want to spend. They rarely steer you wrong. And if you go to Le Bernardin, they have a fantastic wine program. The head sommelier, Aldo Sohm, is a celebrity in his own right and all the staff is happy to help you out. So don't be afraid to talk to them and tell them what you want!