We went to ATOBOY this past Monday. Wife and I just kept batting “holy sh#!” back and forth for the entire meal. Sujeonggwa granita for desert - yum! I would go again.
Blue Hill’s food seem so bland the next night (had GC we needed to use). Would not really recommend this restaurant as the value isn’t there. Quality of ingredients, yes. That’s it.
No responses yet, so let me forward some names and your learned impressions. Any help would be greatly appreciated. If there is some place you think I should include on this list please let me know.
11 Madison Park -
Jean Georges -
Le Bernardin -
Aquavit -
Atera -
Jungsik -
Casa Mono -
Dovetail -
Gramercy Tavern -
La Sirena -
Rebelle -
Yes, we sat in the back and the meal was definitely enhanced by the view out the window and being able to speak with the chef.
Well you started with Brooklyn Fare and Blanca then went to Le Bernie and JG. Totally different vibes. Do you have a preference on formality, any sense of cost, as well as style? What else is improtant (wine, atmosphere, etc)
Dinner at Olmsted was fantastic, what a neighborhood gem. Very personable service, creative dishes that blend comfort/neighborhood with find gastro techniques, great cocktails, great corkage policy (brought a bottle of 04 Fonsalette) and the real treat is the backyard garden which is a perfect romantic touch. I highly recommend it!
I’ve decided to book reservations to Brooklyn Fare! Should be interesting.
What are the options for beverage pairings?
Uchu does offer a beverage pairing option. The wine list is very good as well as the Sake list. They also have an enormous whisky collection.
Dinner last night at ATLA was good, and it struck me as a Mexican street food modernized. The Arctic Char dish was very good and so was the Guacamole dish. Sleek setting, with many seemingly model-wannabes’ that’s common in the East Village whenever darkness comes
Very limited wine list, but the Mezcal and other Mex-based cocktails list was very, very robust. I stuck with the Tecate beer and they worked well with the very flavorful and bold-tasting dishes we had. i was told $35 per bottle corkage, in case you dare to bring your own.
Thanks for the review Ramon. Was planning on going the last few weeks; hard to snag a table.
I hear the brunch is excellent as well.
Faryan, I had an early work day last Friday and was awake at 5 am and, while having coffee, decided to check out reservations for dinner. 7:30 pm was available.
Went to rouge tomate Chelsea last night to meet friends and pop some bottles. Few observations:
The list has been slimmed from ~2k bottles to ~300? Apparently Pascaline Lepeltier is out and thus her program went with it. Ordered some Metras and an old Borguiel off their list, but it wasn’t the dynamic tomb I was hoping to dig through.
The food program was not really welcome by us. Expensive small portions, nordic orientation that felt a bit heavy on sauce and very light on substance. We left hungry after ordering $150 of apps and went to Emmy Squared for a rectangle to slay the hunger.
Lovely interior and bar area, good vibe for a Tuesday night. Not going back given the food program and paired back wine offering.
You must be the last wine geek in NYC to learn that Pascaline is no longer at Rouge Tomate…just kidding 
The opening Chef is gone along with the entire wine staff. I will never go there again.
I’m betting by next year, you and everyone else won’t have a choice.
I agree.
Hi folks,
Looking for some advice here. The parameters:
You are in luck I have been to all of the choices you mention:
Secchu Yokota - Tempura focus. Excellent all around meal with two price options, I think $65 and $95. Final course is usually a choice of duck or beef. Small winelist. Reasonable corkage. Would be a great spot for two as it is 8 seats with a small lounge area for the dessert course. Incredible overall value.
Uchu - Two options. Kaiseki with lots of luxurious incredients including Waygu but no sushi. Good winelist with a few values. I ordered a Steinertal Riesling for $120 that went well with the food. Corkage is $75. $200 all in including tip. Also a great date night. They also have a Sushi room with Chef Ichimura but I have not tried that.
Cagen - Focused on Sushi (one of the best in NYC) No winelist. Corkage is around $50. It is a must to sit at the Sushi counter. Also a nice quite place for two.
Mifune - Also two restaurants in one. The non-Sushi restaurant was good but no where near the level of Secchu or Uchu. The Sushi restaurant is Sushi Amane was good but given the Chef’s pedigree (worked at #1 Sushi restaurant in Japan Sushi Saito) and price over $800 for two with one bottle corkage I was disappointed. Service was not great as he focused exclusively on the Japanese people at the counter.
Kyo Ya - Very traditional subdued. Overall very good.
Other options:
Jewel Bako - A recent meal at the Sushi Counter was outstanding. It is a must that you sit at the Sushi Counter. The dining is room is a different experience.
Shuko - Slightly less traditional and a good blend of Sushi and non-sushi dishes. Room has lots of energy
Hope that helps! Have a great time!!!
Robert’s recommendations here are spot on. I haven’t been to Jewel Bako but is now on the list.
+1 for Secchu Yokota and Shuko
I liked Spring better 2 of the 3 meals I’ve had there (vs. one for Le CousCous). But those two times, I didn’t think it was overrated at all, awesome meals. Third time (after the chef started his other places), not as wonderful, but still reasonably good.
Robert I am going with a friend to the Sushi omakase in October. Do you know if they allow BYO and what is the corkage? edited to add Sorry I see it below $75.00