New York Restaurant Recommendations for a French mother-in-law
April 26, 2013 6:38 AM
I'm heading to New York in 3-4 weeks, and haven't been back in a couple years.
I feel "out of the loop" when it comes to restaurants, and on top of that, I'm going with my French mother-in-law, who is pretty tough when it comes to food.
In the past, being French, she's liked Balthazar & Pastisse, but found Otto too loud and kitchy.
I have 3 dinner meals to book, and have NO IDEA where to start, any suggestions?
If I had all the money in the world, and a hard-to-please French mother in law, I'd make a reservation at:
Le Bernardin this would be one of the high-toned evenings, but man, it's my dream to try it.
I'm also dying to try Marcus Samuelsson's Red Rooster in Harlem.
If she's adventurous, Atera in Tribeca may be a thing. Personally, Molecular Gastronomy makes me want to scream, "get your paws out of my food already!" But to each his own.
Here's a New York magazine article about hot new restaurants in NYC. Perhaps something will occur.
Here's a listing from Michelin. That might be worth exploring, although I didn't see anything on the list that screamed "AMAZING DINING EXPERIENCE", just some places where you could get something tasty.
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 6:49 AM on April 26, 2013
Le Bernardin this would be one of the high-toned evenings, but man, it's my dream to try it.
I'm also dying to try Marcus Samuelsson's Red Rooster in Harlem.
If she's adventurous, Atera in Tribeca may be a thing. Personally, Molecular Gastronomy makes me want to scream, "get your paws out of my food already!" But to each his own.
Here's a New York magazine article about hot new restaurants in NYC. Perhaps something will occur.
Here's a listing from Michelin. That might be worth exploring, although I didn't see anything on the list that screamed "AMAZING DINING EXPERIENCE", just some places where you could get something tasty.
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 6:49 AM on April 26, 2013
There are so many choices.
Maybe do French at Le Philosophe, Italian at Locanda Verde, and new American at ABC Kitchen. All very high quality but still priced within reason.
Or for a splurge do a reservation at Atera or Eleven Madison Park.
Reservations essential at these places.
posted by shivohum at 6:50 AM on April 26, 2013
Maybe do French at Le Philosophe, Italian at Locanda Verde, and new American at ABC Kitchen. All very high quality but still priced within reason.
Or for a splurge do a reservation at Atera or Eleven Madison Park.
Reservations essential at these places.
posted by shivohum at 6:50 AM on April 26, 2013
Red Rooster is great food and great atmosphere - definitely recommend for anyone, but if you MIL is all about fine French dining, then it might be a little raucous. The Modern is a wonderful experience, great service and interesting food. If you can get reservations at Blue Hill, try that too.
posted by shothotbot at 7:11 AM on April 26, 2013
posted by shothotbot at 7:11 AM on April 26, 2013
If she's living in France, french and regularly dines at high end places in France skip the high end in NYC. It doesn't come close to what she can get back home. Atera is a third rate Mugaritz rip off, EMP is San Pellegrino bullshit. Stick to Le B, Brooklyn Fare, Blanca, Per Se if she must do very high end.
Lafayette is too recently opened to seriously consider visiting as one of your three meals in NYC. I've not actually talked to anyone who ate there an enjoyed it - but mostly because the service isn't correct yet. That might/should change by the time you are here - but why risk it.
Le Philosophe is a nice idea - tho a littie cuisine grand-mere'y. I personally liked Pearl & Ash a lot.
If you want to do something uber-NY'y dressed up with great ingredients - you might want to give Carbone a shot - its very high end old school Ital-Am.
If she liked Balthazar and Pastis but thought Otto too loud I suspect she'd love Minetta Tavern - which is a quieter version of B&P. Menu is halfway between a bistro and a steakhouse.
posted by JPD at 7:14 AM on April 26, 2013
Lafayette is too recently opened to seriously consider visiting as one of your three meals in NYC. I've not actually talked to anyone who ate there an enjoyed it - but mostly because the service isn't correct yet. That might/should change by the time you are here - but why risk it.
Le Philosophe is a nice idea - tho a littie cuisine grand-mere'y. I personally liked Pearl & Ash a lot.
If you want to do something uber-NY'y dressed up with great ingredients - you might want to give Carbone a shot - its very high end old school Ital-Am.
If she liked Balthazar and Pastis but thought Otto too loud I suspect she'd love Minetta Tavern - which is a quieter version of B&P. Menu is halfway between a bistro and a steakhouse.
posted by JPD at 7:14 AM on April 26, 2013
I'm out of the loop on NYC restaurants, but usually foreign visitors want to eat our local food, not their cuisine. So find the best of the American breed at whatever price level you can afford--great steak house, hamburger joint, local fish, local anything. Also, French people value restaurants where you can have good conversation, so keep noise levels in mind. Contrarily, she might get a kick out of Eataly, noisy, brash, Italian just for fun and good food. The French don't do Italian well. If she's in NY on a weekend, include the Union Square farmers market. Eleven Madison is right there as well, though it might break the bank even for lunch.
posted by Elsie at 7:39 AM on April 26, 2013
posted by Elsie at 7:39 AM on April 26, 2013
I agree with those who say you should be thinking beyond French cuisine. That said, Jean Georges is pretty amazing, and marries classic French technique with Asian ingredients. Further along that spectrum is Jung Sik, which is "fine dining Korean", and where my wife and I just had an outstanding anniversary meal.
posted by mkultra at 8:44 AM on April 26, 2013
posted by mkultra at 8:44 AM on April 26, 2013
Why take her to French cuisine? Why not take her to something she can't get at home, like Southwestern Cuisine (e.g. Mesa Grill) or barbecue, or Mexican?
That is, assuming she's open to new foods.
posted by musofire at 9:24 AM on April 26, 2013
That is, assuming she's open to new foods.
posted by musofire at 9:24 AM on April 26, 2013
Commerce is an adorable little high end restaurant in the west village. The noise level is not too much and the food is great. It's also a good parent place--my dad loved it.
Also in that area, Centro Vinoteca is a little more casual and cheaper but still great not loud atmosphere and food.
posted by rmless at 9:40 AM on April 26, 2013
Also in that area, Centro Vinoteca is a little more casual and cheaper but still great not loud atmosphere and food.
posted by rmless at 9:40 AM on April 26, 2013
If your mother-in-law wants the brasserie experience again, more places in this vein would be Cercle Rouge, Lucien, Odeon, Cafe Luxembourg and Minetta Tavern. Calliope sounds right up her alley, but don't get a noisy sidewalk table.
I've had some of the best food of my life at Jean-Georges, but only at the barely affordable lunch seating. If you can swing it, definitely go. Boulud Sud is also excellent. A more low-key option she might like is Recette.
Getting away from the French influence, Red Rooster, ABC Kitchen, The Little Owl, and Yunnan Kitchen are some favorites. For Italian, try Locanda Verde, Frankie's Spuntino, Morandi (can get loud), Scarpetta, and Il Buco Alimentari e Vineria (though it's a little cramped). I'd steer clear of Eataly if she doesn't like kitschy and loud, but La Verdure is there and is good. Rosemary's is great, but I don't think they take reservations. Gaonnuri, a Korean place, has an impressive view from the 40th floor. For a great Japanese dinner, I highly recommend Aburiya Kinnosuke.
If Brooklyn is on the map for you guys, try Reynard, Maison Premiere and Battersby.
posted by theory at 1:40 PM on April 26, 2013
I've had some of the best food of my life at Jean-Georges, but only at the barely affordable lunch seating. If you can swing it, definitely go. Boulud Sud is also excellent. A more low-key option she might like is Recette.
Getting away from the French influence, Red Rooster, ABC Kitchen, The Little Owl, and Yunnan Kitchen are some favorites. For Italian, try Locanda Verde, Frankie's Spuntino, Morandi (can get loud), Scarpetta, and Il Buco Alimentari e Vineria (though it's a little cramped). I'd steer clear of Eataly if she doesn't like kitschy and loud, but La Verdure is there and is good. Rosemary's is great, but I don't think they take reservations. Gaonnuri, a Korean place, has an impressive view from the 40th floor. For a great Japanese dinner, I highly recommend Aburiya Kinnosuke.
If Brooklyn is on the map for you guys, try Reynard, Maison Premiere and Battersby.
posted by theory at 1:40 PM on April 26, 2013
Rosemary's is my current go-to, West 10th and Greenwich, great room, excellent service, rustica menu, groovy neighborhood. Quite similiar, but east side, is Maialino in the Gramercy Hotel.
posted by thinkpiece at 5:01 PM on April 26, 2013
posted by thinkpiece at 5:01 PM on April 26, 2013
Annisa was amazing for dinner this February. Quiet (if she's not into lots of noise), incredible service, in a fun neighborhood for walking around...
Perilla is in the same area and also amazing, not a bad thing on the menu.
Both of these came highly recommended by our uber-food-loving NYC-resident friends and we ended up ordering/sharing large swathes of the menu at each, so I tried more than just my own plates.
posted by bitter-girl.com at 6:42 PM on April 26, 2013
Perilla is in the same area and also amazing, not a bad thing on the menu.
Both of these came highly recommended by our uber-food-loving NYC-resident friends and we ended up ordering/sharing large swathes of the menu at each, so I tried more than just my own plates.
posted by bitter-girl.com at 6:42 PM on April 26, 2013
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posted by bcwinters at 6:47 AM on April 26, 2013