plpcolumbia

Since dining at Per Se last summer I've been plotting a return visit, but as the prices get ratcheted up (when I was there the tasting menu was $150 and the wine pairing was $100) that return visit continues to get postponed. At these prices everything that aspect of the meal is under the microscope and any flaws are magnified. When a dinner tab for two starts to approach $1000 - that's just way too much to spend for dinner. I loved my meal and overall experience at Per Se, but I tend to enjoy myself more at 3 star restaurants in New York. I'm getting great food, but at a reasonable price, and I tend to be more relaxed about the whole experience. My wife and I had a great dinner at Aquavit last weekend(with "beverage" pairings). I had the regular tasting menu and she had the vegetarian tasting menu. We had a great time, but come to think of it the food wasn't as good as Per Se...

Maestro has an excellent vegetarian menu. Also, I would second recommendation for the Inn at Little Washington. They were kind enough to prepare a vegetarian tasting menu for my wife while I had the regular tasting menu. We each had different wine pairings as well. That place (The Inn) is awesome... Also, Cityzen, has vegetarian options also (with a special request they prepared a vegetarian tasting menu for my wife too!).

Anyone been to that new place in Dewey, Venus on the Half Shell? I'm going to the beach in August and was wondering if it's worth a try. My wife and I usually have a nice dinner in Rehoboth the week we're there (usually the Blue Moon Cafe), but since we're staying in Dewey does this place measure up to the nicer places in Rehoboth?

My 4 star list: Per Se Babbo This list is based solely on personal preference and takes into account cuisine, ambience, and service! What are the 4-star restaurants according to xyz123?

* * Go Frank, go!

On a similar note - when my wife and I first arrived we ordered 2 Kir Royales while waiting in the lounge. At dinner we requested sparkling water for the table instead of the tap water. And I had coffee with my dessert. None of these items showed up on the final bill...

Actually, they refilled the wine glasses if we were finished before the particular course was finished (without our asking), which I thought was very gracious of them!

My wife and I dined at Per Se last night, and it was wonderful. Somehow, the place managed to justify all the hype and buzz surrounding it. I have eaten at a couple of 4-star restaurants in New York before (Daniel, Bouley, and Jean Georges), but Per Se was the first time I have eaten at a restaurant where I personally have had a 4-star experience. The other places mentioned above were great, but for me the combination of great food, great ambience, and great service just put Per Se in a whole different category that just left those other restaurants in the dust. I only have the pleasure of dining in Manhattan about 3-4 times a year, and so I never get the treatment that a "regular" patron of Restaurant Daniel or Jean Georges might receive. At Per Se from the moment we walked through the glass doors and were greeted warmly by the receptionist to the time our captain brought us our menus (signed by Chef Benno!) I felt welcomed and that the staff was truly happy to have us there. I had the Chef's Tasting Menu and my wife had the Tasting of Vegetables. We both had wine pairings which were an additional $100 per person. We each had 8 different wines (no matching wine with the sorbet course which came just after the cheese course). The wine pairing added a whole dimension to the enjoyment of the food. Some highlights from the menu for me were the "Oysters and Pearls" (described at length previously), the sauteed foie gras with bing cherries (I loved this dish and I never, ever eat foie gras), and the "Calotte de Boef Grillee". I also loved the taste I had of my wife's sweet carrot soup with carrot "roe" and curry "mouse". Any criticisms you ask? Some of the Keller signature desserts were, relatively speaking to the rest of the menu, kind of average. The "Tentation au Chocolat" was great to look at, but that was about it. The "Coffee and Doughnuts" in my mind is a recipe that can be retired already. All in all it was a great meal. I'm already saving up for the next visit - if I can ever get reservations again!

How does one get up to the restaurant? Is the only way up there to go up the escalators through the mall? I read somewhere that there was a separate elevator that takes you directly up to the restaurant and where you can avoid the shops altogether.

Are there any restaurants in NYC where you could go in black tie? Or is that just for prom-goers these days?

How much was the wine pairing? Did it also include desert wines?

Just got my rescheduling call: March 13th at 9PM rescheduled for June 12 at 10PM Better late than never...

3 part question: 1) Would Per Se be classified as "French" or as an "American" restaurant? 2) Would those who have already eaten there consider Per Se to be operating at a "4 star level" (NY Times definition - whatever that is)? 3) Does Per Se have a shot at becoming the first "4 star American restaurant" in New York City?

Robert40- That's some pressure on Keller to serve up the meal of a lifetime. I hope he and his staff are up to the task and that your dinner at Per Se is superlative in every way.

Has anyone been rescheduled yet?