Anyone know some "upscale" restraurants in NYC?

[wop]

Assuming she likes sushi, go to Nobu. Hands down best Sushi you will eat, and the chefs there are awesome. Just make a reservation in advance as its booked up somewhat far in advance, unless you want to sit at the bar but it doesn't sound like you do.

Overrated and I doubt you'll get away with just $150 with wine. There are other upmarket Japanese restaurants that serves up similar to their signature dishes like black miso cod or wasabi lobster or whatever. Nobu to me, is just a celeb hotspot. Not authentic japanese keiseki (although they try to be), it's more like izakaya style mix with a touch of western influence.

As for the reservation, there's a trick to getting last minute bookings at Michelin star restaurants. That's NOT to call them yourself, but get your AMEX concierge service to ring instead. All top restaurants reserve "emergency" bookings from AMEX plat. But chances are, they'll require you to leave after 2 hours (turnover time-for next table). Doesn't matter Nobu, Zuma or whatever, I can't remember when I DIDN'T get a booking last minute via concierge.

If you're paying for Nobu price, I would recommend going to L'Atelier Joel Robuchon at Four Seasons Hotel. They maintain superb standards all over the world. Try out their foie gras and monkfish, divine.

[Meat]

second this. Jacket required (don't need a tie) and it's all seafood. Unfortunately, it might be out of your price range, unless you want to do lunch. 3 course lunch is around $68 person. drinks/tip/tax should pull you around $160sh.

Took my dad there for his bday. Did the chef's tasting menu ($185/head). 6 ppl and a bottle of win. it was something like $1800. Money well spent.

I think their dinner price fixe is like $105/head and 4 courses. They'll give you an amuse bouche, all the bread you want, and some other goodies too.

agreed you're going to love this place

[foopy]

might not be exactly what you are looking for, but here's a fun suggestion anyways:

Ninja New York
NINIJA NEW YORK Restaurant, Finest Japanese Cuisine

25 Hudson St
New York, NY 10013-3802
(212) 274-8500

ninjas serve your dinner. in a cave. or something.

edit: not really a cave, but a "ninja castle".

[Kingadem]

might not be exactly what you are looking for, but here's a fun suggestion anyways:

Ninja New York
NINIJA NEW YORK Restaurant, Finest Japanese Cuisine

25 Hudson St
New York, NY 10013-3802
(212) 274-8500

ninjas serve your dinner. in a cave. or something.

edit: not really a cave, but a "ninja castle".

Lol that looks hilarious, I'm def gonna check it out.

[ertyu]

might not be exactly what you are looking for, but here's a fun suggestion anyways:

Ninja New York
NINIJA NEW YORK Restaurant, Finest Japanese Cuisine

25 Hudson St
New York, NY 10013-3802
(212) 274-8500

ninjas serve your dinner. in a cave. or something.

edit: not really a cave, but a "ninja castle".

the atmosphere is cool but the food tastes terrible, and its not what you would want to take a girl out to an upscale Dinner.

Also, to the guy who suggested Ruth Chris', Peter Luger >>>>>>>>>>>>>> Ruth Chris by far.

But I still think OP should go to Nobu :D

[wop]

I still do not GET what's the hype about Nobu apart from Madonna dining there.
Come on, look at what they serve.
Sashimi - blue fin tuna, yellow tail, usual fishes
Signature dishes - black cod, Japanese style beef carpaccio, or whatever Lobster tempura
Main Dishes - Don sets that all other Japanese restaurants are serving.
Desserts? Ponzu ice cream lol

All these are available from other good Jap. restaurants. I've been to many, high end restaurants, trust me, Nobu is all hyped up. Only reason I even go there nowadays is coz I know one of the sushi chefs, gives me 3 starters for the price of 2. LOL?

I don't even want to get started with their Mixed tempura platter for example... only 4 prawns? lol
Crabs were over seasonend, and when you tell the waiter, they shrug you off.
I pay top dollars and I expect good service, not this shit.

[ertyu]

I still do not GET what's the hype about Nobu apart from Madonna dining there.
Come on, look at what they serve.
Sashimi - blue fin tuna, yellow tail, usual fishes
Signature dishes - black cod, Japanese style beef carpaccio, or whatever Lobster tempura
Main Dishes - Don sets that all other Japanese restaurants are serving.
Desserts? Ponzu ice cream lol

All these are available from other good Jap. restaurants. I've been to many, high end restaurants, trust me, Nobu is all hyped up. Only reason I even go there nowadays is coz I know one of the sushi chefs, gives me 3 starters for the price of 2. LOL?

The atmosphere, and they have Oh Toro, which is actually pretty hard to find at a lot of smaller sushi restaurants. They also have 3 different types of Eel, 3!

[wop]

Right, people just go there for fatty tuna

[ertyu]

The atmosphere

This was really the point I was trying to get across, the rest was just saying how good the food is.

[wop]

Masa at Time Warner Center.
Megu & Kuruma Zushi flies their fishes from Japan.

Oh well, can't argue with atmosphere, but I can sure tell you, there are other places that gives more bang for buck for the food, on top of having really good atmosphere.

If you are really going for Nobu and can't get reservation via their booking lines, use AMEX concierge. 99% you'll get it, even if it's last minute!!!

[ertyu]

Masa at Time Warner Center.
Megu & Kuruma Zushi flies their fishes from Japan.

Oh well, can't argue with atmosphere, but I can sure tell you, there are other places that gives more bang for buck for the food, on top of having really good atmosphere.

Masa is really expensive @_@ I've never been, is it really worth the price?

I've been to Kuruma Zushi once on someone else's bill and it was delicious, but I think between just us 2, we had a 580 dollar tab.

I've heard good things about Megu and it's only slightly more expensive than Nobu, is the quality very different?

[wop]

Apparently even their water to make green tea is flown from a special spring in Japan, as are all their ingredients!

Food is good (as authentic as you can get, and not like the westernised Nobu/Zuma style), but it's one of those places that you'll go there once for the experience, and that's it. Unless it's coming out from company tab of course. Restaurant is really small though, cosy I would put it.

It's like Gordon Ramsay, a chef will come and "discuss and design" your menu, and you'll be treated with the finest Japanese cuisine. As with all 3 Michelin star restaurants, Masa's wine/sake list is impressive. Sommelier knows their shit, and recommend according to your budget.

[wonderlust]

i agree nobu is somewhat overrated but if you nvr been it is fun to experience at least once

megu and masa (beautiful interior) super expensive ..i thought we were trying to help keep his budget under 150 ;x

(p.s. love the green tea Mille Crêpes cake at megu...)


back to topic~ stanton social http://www.thestantonsocial.com/
could be cool to take your gf~it's a restaurant w/a lounge feel..it's a small plates type of place
but you can be in your budget. the french onion soup dumplings are a must and so are the short ribs...the atomoshere
very sexy and trendy. your gf wont be out of place in a pretty dress and you can go more casual if you feel.

[ertyu]

Apparently even their water to make green tea is flown from a special spring in Japan, as are all their ingredients!

Food is good (as authentic as you can get, and not like the westernised Nobu/Zuma style), but it's one of those places that you'll go there once for the experience, and that's it. Unless it's coming out from company tab of course. Restaurant is really small though, cosy I would put it.

It's like Gordon Ramsay, a chef will come and "discuss and design" your menu, and you'll be treated with the finest Japanese cuisine. As with all 3 Michelin star restaurants, Masa's wine/sake list is impressive. Sommelier knows their shit, and recommend according to your budget.

What do you do for a living wop that you can afford going to Masa so many times?

[wop]

Only once, went to NY shopping trip and my friend wanted to try it.

Anyone else noticed a change of trend regarding the crowds in upscale restaurant?
Was at Zafferano in Knightsbridge last weekend for lunch, and it's full of Middle eastern and Russians.

These people weren't just mere well off, they dripped money, Van Clef's, croc clutches, and haute couture lol

[ertyu]

Only once, went to NY shopping trip and my friend wanted to try it.

Anyone else noticed a change of trend regarding the crowds in upscale restaurant?
Was at Zafferano in Knightsbridge last weekend for lunch, and it's full of Middle eastern and Russians.

These people weren't just mere well off, they dripped money, Van Clef's, croc clutches, and haute couture lol

Indians and Chinese are making bank off of their emerging economies

Middle easterners have always been dripping oil errrr I mean... money >.>

And I dont know why Russians are rich either, they're all over NYC and I just don't get it.

[ZarakiKujata]

Indians and Chinese are making bank off of their emerging economies

Middle easterners have always been dripping oil errrr I mean... money >.>

And I dont know why Russians are rich either, they're all over NYC and I just don't get it.

Few reasons: Russia has some of the highest supplies of oil/natural gas in the world (I know they are #1 in one and are in like the top 3 or 5 in the other). It's just that none of the West bought from them until the Cold War ended, so that aspect of the economy did not develop the way it has over the last 8 years. Also, after the Cold War every government owned industry in Russia was privatized by the same government bureaucrats that ran it, allowing for the massive oligarchical structure that their economy/politics have taken. But basically they used their new found empires and oil wealth to copy what the Arabs have been doing since the 1970s, using oil money to expand into the US financial system to make more bling.

edit: On topic though, I think you should check out my favorite authentic Italian pizza restaurant in NYC. I go there every single time I'm in the city, I believe it's called Sbarro's.

[ertyu]

Oh yeah Sbarro's! It's right across the street from one of my favorite coffee shops, I think it's called Starbucks? That's a good place to take OP's girl too.

[Sanoske]

Indians and Chinese are making bank off of their emerging economies

Middle easterners have always been dripping oil errrr I mean... money >.>

And I dont know why Russians are rich either, they're all over NYC and I just don't get it.

To add on to what was said before, costs on living in a city like Moscow are astronomical... so someone well-off in Moscow is going to be baller in NYC. (My girlfriend is Russian and her older brother still lives in Moscow)

Damn, you guys have given me a lot to think on! Jean-Georges Spice Market looks amazing, that really caught my attention. I remember seeing reviews on the NINJA NY place a while ago, always wanted to go but I'm not sure the lady would find it as awesome as I would.

I'm going to start calling places tonight and see where I can even get a reservation this close (We're going out the 21st). Plus it seems like my budget might have been lowered? We'll see...

Also I'm 22, but she's 20 and therefore cannot drink... so that knocks a good amount off our tab. I don't particularly enjoy alcohol with food for some reason, so I probably wouldn't drink either if for nothing more than to save some money and find a nice cafe after dinner.

I also realize that ~$150 for 2 for a night in NYC will be tough to get what people consider upscale. Figured I'd take a shot. I've never really done anything more than $100 for 2, so I'm not too up on high priced food. At this point I may just save up for a different anniversary for the city, and just do a nice place in Greenwich or that area.

[Sanoske]

Update!

So, I decided to forgo NYC this time around. Instead I'm planning a whole day thing which will not be the upscale mood I had planned, but will be more fun I think and cost about the same as just having dinner in the city.

Morning visit to Maritime Aquarium to see them walk the penguins. (She is in love with penguins, its an obsession)
Afternoon coffee/lunch
IMAX movie before dinner
and then taking her to "Match" in South Norwalk, which I've heard great things about and the menu looks fantastic. Match Restaurant, South Norwalk, Connecticut, CT. One of the Best Restaurants in Connecticut.
Afterwards we'll see what is open.

But thanks for all the suggestions people, I will definitely be keeping those in mind for the NYC trip I have in mind.