I want to go to dinner at a fancy restaurant in NYC

[Rakehellion]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rainbow_Room

"Suffering from a decline in business following the 2008 economic reversal, the restaurant closed in 2009."

I'll keep that one in the maybe section.

 

[vailr]

Vegan/vegetarian restaurants in Manhattan:
http://www.yelp.com/search?find_desc=vegan+restaurants&find_loc=Manhattan,+NY&ns=1

 

[Squeetard]

This is possibly a Valentine's Day thing.

I'm a great cook and very picky about food, so I'm looking for something I absolutely cannot cook at home. Some of the restaurants with three Michelin stars boast 20-plate meals.

I'm not really looking to pay $300 a person, but maybe half that. And I definitely don't want to have to reserve a table a month in advance.


What are some great spots you can recommend?




Inb4 #mediumrare

Doesn't matter where you go, you won't like it. You are a picky food snob. So my advice to you is DO NOT COMPLAIN about anything in front of your date. You will ruin it for her.

 

[sdifox]

This is possibly a Valentine's Day thing.

I'm a great cook and very picky about food, so I'm looking for something I absolutely cannot cook at home. Some of the restaurants with three Michelin stars boast 20-plate meals.

I'm not really looking to pay $300 a person, but maybe half that. And I definitely don't want to have to reserve a table a month in advance.


What are some great spots you can recommend?




Inb4 #mediumrare

You are not a great cook. You don't even know how to pick meat.

 

[yuchai]

Go to one of the good sushi joints. Guaranteed you cannot make anything remotely close at home.

Check out Sushi Azabu. I consider the Koi course at $35 (10 pieces of nigiri) as one of the best deals on top quality sushi in the city. After that, ask the chef to give you more pieces until it's enough food. You can easily stay within budget by doing it that way.

Not sure if it's available on Valentine's though.

 

[el-Capitan]

This is a nice, cozy place. The food was decent last time I was there...

http://theplaceny.com/

EDIT: Not sure what you mean by "fancy" but it certainly fits your budget.

Sorry, but that restaurant is as lame as the name. I live around the corner. It is always empty and we wonder how it survives.

 

[el-Capitan]

Try Blue Ribbon, ate there the last time I was in town for work. Also ate at Ai Fiori that trip, pretty good but that isn't really my thing. I much prefer Blue Ribbon, the Paella was awesome and they make wicked Old Fashioneds.

If you are looking for something beyond what you can cook at home, I'd much rather suggest you try "Mas" next door to Blue Ribbon Bakery. After dinner, enjoy a glass of whine at the Blue Ribbon Wine Bar across the street.

 

[Rakehellion]

Doesn't matter where you go, you won't like it. You are a picky food snob. So my advice to you is DO NOT COMPLAIN about anything in front of your date. You will ruin it for her.

Seems like you're the only person here with complaints, Debbie Downer!

 

[el-Capitan]

OP, if you want to go fancy on Valentines Day, but do not wish to book a month ahead, you're gonna have a bad time!

Suggest, take her out the weekend before and serve her your good home cooking on valentines day. At home.

 

[torpid]

I think that's a tough one if you mean a reservation actually on Valentine's Day itself less than a month out. Maybe momofuku ko is an option since they don't book that far out IIRC.

 

[sactoking]

OP, if you want to go fancy, on Valentines Day but do not wish to book a month ahead, you're gonna have a bad time!

Suggest, take her out the weekend before and serve her your good home cooking on valentines day. At home.

"If you french fry when you're supposed to pizza, you're gonna have a bad time."

 

[Rakehellion]

OP, if you want to go fancy on Valentines Day, but do not wish to book a month ahead, you're gonna have a bad time!

Suggest, take her out the weekend before and serve her your good home cooking on valentines day. At home.

I was planning on doing it a week before, not the day of. I'm not that traditional.

A month-long waiting list doesn't sit well with me and I know there are plenty of nice restaurants that will let me reserve a few days or hours ahead of time.

 

[Tencntraze]

This is a nice, cozy place. The food was decent last time I was there...

http://theplaceny.com/

EDIT: Not sure what you mean by "fancy" but it certainly fits your budget.

I took my now fiance here for our first Valentine's Day. Definitely like it there.

 

[torpid]

Daniel and Jean Georges might have availability and do have prix fixes in your price range. All of the other 3 star michelin restaurants are out (either due to cost or availability or both)

 

[geecee]

If you decide to go sushi and/or Japanese:
15 East near Union Square is great (had the tasting menu there) and you can get away with under $150 per person, actually even with a little alcohol.

Sushi of Gari (Upper East Side) is terrific and you can get the omakase there for well under $150. They have several other locations as well, but probably not as good as the original.

Sasabune, also on the UES, is really good as well. Didn't get any special set there though, just ordered pieces, so can't comment on the omakase.

Sushi Yasuda in midtown is also quite good and relatively reasonable, though perhaps not in the same league as the 3 above. I haven't been there in a while though.

Another one to consider is Sushi Nakazawa in the West Village. It's run by a Jiro (Jiro Dreams of Sushi documentary) apprentice and is supposed to be fantastic (never been there). Hard to get reservations in general though, never mind Valentine's Day.

EDIT: BTW, I have no idea if these places have special V-Day menus or not, but since you're not actually going on V-Day, it shouldn't make a difference.

 

[KeithTalent]

If you decide to go sushi and/or Japanese:
15 East near Union Square is good and you can get away with under $150 per person, excluding sake.

Sushi of Gari (Upper East Side) is terrific as well and you can get the omakase there for well under $150. They have several other locations as well, but probably not as good as the original.

Sasabune also on the UES is really good as well.

Sushi Yasuda in midtown is also quite good and relatively reasonable, though perhaps not in the same league as the 3 above. I haven't been there in a while though.

Another one to consider is Sushi Nakazawa in the West Village. It's run by a Jiro (Jiro Dreams of Sushi documentary) apprentice and is supposed to be fantastic (never been there). Hard to get reservations in general though, never mind Valentine's Day.

Hmm, this is relevant to my interests. Going to be back in NYC for a few days in March and was thinking of hitting a nice Japanese place. Need to find a fancy place for Saturday night too. :hmm:

KT

 

[geecee]

Hmm, this is relevant to my interests. Going to be back in NYC for a few days in March and was thinking of hitting a nice Japanese place. Need to find a fancy place for Saturday night too. :hmm:

KT

Edited the post somewhat from when you quoted. Went back to check their prices, as I didn't remember off the top of my head. But you can easily come in under $150/head in most of those places, even with a little sake.

 

[el-Capitan]

@OP

I have an excellent suggestion. Go to Tertulia on the border West / Greenwich Village. It's effing awesome. Best Spanish food i've had (and I've been to Spain some 10-12 times). Took my (German) in-laws there last year. I was treading thin ice because they are fans of Spanish cuisine - they were blown away.

Place is expensive enough, but not pretentious. 2 people + 2 glasses of wine + tip, prob $150.

What I loved. The staff was so into the food, really enthusiastic. They actually said "order the quail eggs, they are fucking awesome". When a different waiter served them, he said "good choice. They are fucking awesome". They were

 

[yuchai]

If you decide to go sushi and/or Japanese:
15 East near Union Square is great (had the tasting menu there) and you can get away with under $150 per person, actually even with a little alcohol.

Sushi of Gari (Upper East Side) is terrific and you can get the omakase there for well under $150. They have several other locations as well, but probably not as good as the original.

Sasabune, also on the UES, is really good as well. Didn't get any special set there though, just ordered pieces, so can't comment on the omakase.

Sushi Yasuda in midtown is also quite good and relatively reasonable, though perhaps not in the same league as the 3 above. I haven't been there in a while though.

Another one to consider is Sushi Nakazawa in the West Village. It's run by a Jiro (Jiro Dreams of Sushi documentary) apprentice and is supposed to be fantastic (never been there). Hard to get reservations in general though, never mind Valentine's Day.

EDIT: BTW, I have no idea if these places have special V-Day menus or not, but since you're not actually going on V-Day, it shouldn't make a difference.

From my experience, it's very tough to stay under $150 pp at 15 East or Sushi of Gari if you go omakase, unless you have a tiny appetite! You can do it at Yasuda, yes.

Nakazawa is out of the question since he doesn't like doing month in advance reservations.

 

[KeithTalent]

That Nakazawa place looks awesome. I may try to get in there. Thanks gents.

KT

 

[brianmanahan]

holy crap that's expensive. i wouldn't be able to swallow with good conscience if i was eating at a place that pricey.

 

[Dari]

Sorry, but that restaurant is as lame as the name. I live around the corner. It is always empty and we wonder how it survives.

Yeah, it's gotten worse but the place is cozy and has a very romantic atmosphere.

OP, Chez Josephine is within your budget. It's own by the adopted son of Josephine Baker. There's always a guy on the piano as well.

 

[IndyColtsFan]

Highly recommended by ShirtyLickens

They've got "live" entertainment too!

 

[KeithTalent]

Has anyone here been to Atera and/or WD-50? I have reservations for both on a Saturday night, but I can't decide which one to stick with. Atera looks amazing, but I have been wanting to try WD-50 for a while (some recent reviews have been less than stellar though).

KT

 

[Imported]

Never been to either, but I'd personally pick Atera over WD-50 from what I've read.