If one argues that JGV is slipping, what exactly are you comparing him to? You're surely correct to say that 66, Spice Market, and V Steakhouse aren't as good as Jean-Georges. But did JGV intend these restaurants to be as good as Jean-Georges? I don't think so. Jean-Georges is his four-star flagship, and by most accounts is still performing at that level. But JGV's other properties are meant to fill different niches. Whether deserved or not, most reviews of Spice Market — not just Amanda Hesser's — have been extremely favorable. I'm writing from memory, but no reviewer in my recollection gave it less than two stars, and at least one other gave it three. V Steakhouse has earned at least two stars from every reviewer in town that awards stars except for Frank Bruni. So, it is no evidence of slippage that JGV's other properties aren't on the level of Jean-Georges: they aren't meant to be. i don't get it....how come it's not meant to be that his other properties(66, SpiceMarket, V Steakhouse) aren't on the same level as Jean Georges???