VIBE

When your triple Michelin-starred restaurant has been widely acclaimed as one of the best seafood places in Manhattan, that is saying a lot in itself. While the food is excellent, it is the full package that wins us over: the wait staff parade in and out with course after course of the lavish tasting menus (usually taken with wine pairings, bien sur). It’s located on the ground floor of a Midtown office building, so the corporate crowd packs in at lunch; at night, the scene changes to refined diners and special occasioners. Note that the restaurant was recently redesigned with a sexy new look: out with the classic French old-school feel, in with the contemporary shimmering metallic accents and large front of house lounge.

CROWD

The Midtown business lunch crowd mixed with couples and splurging locals.

WHAT WE WOULD WEAR

Formal; jackets required for men. Girls, go for a sleek dress, pumps, and your latest handbag from Fifth Avenue.

GO HERE WITH

Coworkers; groups; significant other; parents

WHY WE LIKE IT

The food and the service are brilliantly executed (and while we visited pre-makeover, we like what we hear on the décor, too). Also, we love details like how the sauces arrive separately from the main courses, so we can decide how much to add.

WHAT WE WOULD CHANGE

Nothing.

GOOD TO KNOW

The restaurant originally operated in Paris for 14 years before moving to Manhattan in 1986. The overseeing chef, Eric Ripert, just happens to be one of the greatest seafood chefs in the world and appears on several television shows, including Treme and Top Chef. The lounge is more casual and offers a separate menu of cocktails and light bites (think tuna tartare, oysters, and pata negra). In the main dining room, a dinner tasting menu is offered in addition to the prix fixe for USD 190.

CLOSEST COMPS

Per Se (New York); Jean Georges (New York); Gaya Rive Gauche (Paris); Providence (Los Angeles)

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