Wedding Venue boo boo

[Harriet]

As some of you know, our reception is just a dinner for 8 at our favourite restaurant here. Well, it''s closed for the first two weeks of August!

 

[Pandora II]

Oh no, I''m so sorry (you couldn''t convince the chef to come and cook chez vous?)

 

[Harriet]

I can''t afford him. I''d have to sell my Tsavorites. I''m looking at other restaurants, but the idea of hiring a private chef for the evening is intriguing.

 

[pjean]

Date: 5/24/2008 9:00:09 PM
Author: Harriet
the idea of hiring a private chef for the evening is intriguing.

That would be pretty fabulous.

 

[FrekeChild]

What restaurant is it Harriet?

(You should totally go the private chef route!!)

 

[Independent Gal]

Another vote for private chef. Though if it''s closed for two weeks, that''s probably so that the chef can take a holiday.

I''ve heard there are quite a few restaurants in New York.

Maybe there''s another possibility?

 

[surfgirl]

Date: 5/25/2008 9:59:05 AM
Author: Independent Gal
I''ve heard there are quite a few restaurants in New York.

Maybe there''s another possibility?

Seriously! It''s like restaurant heaven there. Come on Harriet, get another choice! What about Daniel''s? Have you ever been to al di la in Park Slope? It''s an amazing Venetian restaurant with stellar food. Not the elegance of Daniel but still wonderful food and nice atmosphere...

 

[Harriet]

Date: 5/24/2008 10:05:52 PM
Author: pjean

Date: 5/24/2008 9:00:09 PM
Author: Harriet
the idea of hiring a private chef for the evening is intriguing.

That would be pretty fabulous.

It would be nice and intimate, wouldn''t it?

 

[Harriet]

Date: 5/25/2008 1:41:19 AM
Author: FrekeChild
What restaurant is it Harriet?

(You should totally go the private chef route!!)

It''s Per Se.

 

[Harriet]

Date: 5/25/2008 9:59:05 AM
Author: Independent Gal
Another vote for private chef. Though if it''s closed for two weeks, that''s probably so that the chef can take a holiday.

I''ve heard there are quite a few restaurants in New York.

Maybe there''s another possibility?

Yes, we''re looking at a few others. Our second choice is reluctant to seat a party of 8 because it has a small dining room. Kepping our fingers crossed.

 

[Harriet]

Date: 5/25/2008 1:16:25 PM
Author: surfgirl
Seriously! It''s like restaurant heaven there. Come on Harriet, get another choice! What about Daniel''s? Have you ever been to al di la in Park Slope? It''s an amazing Venetian restaurant with stellar food. Not the elegance of Daniel but still wonderful food and nice atmosphere...

Ooh, we should check out al di la. Daniel''s is on the list. Our second choice is Jean Georges.

 

[surfgirl]

Russian Tea Room is very elegant if that''s what you want.

What restaurant does Eric Ripert exec chef at? I forget...

The Box Tree is very pretty and wedding worthy.

Is Le Cirque still in the courtyard at The Palace? I cant remember...But it''s a very pretty wedding-ish locale.

If you want to do dinner and dancing you could do The Carlyle Hotel''s Lounge for dinner and old school jazz?

 

[Independent Gal]

Date: 5/25/2008 3:37:30 PM
Author: Harriet

Date: 5/25/2008 1:16:25 PM

Author: surfgirl

Seriously! It''s like restaurant heaven there. Come on Harriet, get another choice! What about Daniel''s? Have you ever been to al di la in Park Slope? It''s an amazing Venetian restaurant with stellar food. Not the elegance of Daniel but still wonderful food and nice atmosphere...

Ooh, we should check out al di la. Daniel''s is on the list. Our second choice is Jean Georges.

Mmm. I love Jean Georges.

 

[[email protected]]

Chanterelle is pretty wedding friendly. Bummer about PerSe...that would have rocked hard!
I know, get a jet and fly to French Laundry!

 

[Harriet]

We''re also looking at Chanterelle. Isn''t it pretty?
Haha. French Laundry''s probaby closed too.

 

[[email protected]]

Chanterelle is very pretty, excellent excellent service,
very good food. There is an article about the couple who owns it in the New Yorker back in the late 90''s. They also had a bistro that closed after 9-11 that I liked.
To be honest, at Chanterelle the service made more of a lasting impression than the food which was excellent, but perhaps not transcendent. It''s not quite per se, but interms of pacing the courses, and making it a great experience, it was the best service I ever had in NYC.If I had my reception in the city, it was a strong contender.
I did love the food at Cafe Boulud.
I have never been to March, but reading the description in Zagat it could be a good fit. Also for some reason, I am thinking you might have a really good time at David Burke and Donatella. Everything is always so yummy there, especially dessert.
Annisa has a very good rating in Zagat, but darn if I''ve ever heard of it.
I hear fabulous things about Telepan.
I had a pretty fabulous meal at 11 Madison Park a while back, it''s very pretty and they have a private room.Amazing service too.
Good luck, you are a bride after my own heart!

 

[[email protected]]

One other thought...maybe post for suggestions on Chowhound!

 

[Harriet]

Date: 5/25/2008 4:00:07 PM
Author: surfgirl
Russian Tea Room is very elegant if that''s what you want.

What restaurant does Eric Ripert exec chef at? I forget...

The Box Tree is very pretty and wedding worthy.

Is Le Cirque still in the courtyard at The Palace? I cant remember...But it''s a very pretty wedding-ish locale.

If you want to do dinner and dancing you could do The Carlyle Hotel''s Lounge for dinner and old school jazz?

Le Bernardin, which is also on the list of restuarants to check.

Le Cirque is now at the Bloomberg building, but we''ve never eaten there.

How''s the food at the Carlyle?

 

[Harriet]

Date: 5/25/2008 9:23:58 PM
Author: newsysuzy
Chanterelle is very pretty, excellent excellent service,
very good food. There is an article about the couple who owns it in the New Yorker back in the late 90''s. They also had a bistro that closed after 9-11 that I liked.
To be honest, at Chanterelle the service made more of a lasting impression than the food which was excellent, but perhaps not transcendent. It''s not quite per se, but interms of pacing the courses, and making it a great experience, it was the best service I ever had in NYC.If I had my reception in the city, it was a strong contender.
I did love the food at Cafe Boulud.
I have never been to March, but reading the description in Zagat it could be a good fit. Also for some reason, I am thinking you might have a really good time at David Burke and Donatella. Everything is always so yummy there, especially dessert.
Annisa has a very good rating in Zagat, but darn if I''ve ever heard of it.
I hear fabulous things about Telepan.
I had a pretty fabulous meal at 11 Madison Park a while back, it''s very pretty and they have a private room.Amazing service too.
Good luck, you are a bride after my own heart!

Hi,
Thanks for your input. I''ve heard that 11 Madison Park is very pretty. We''ll look at Bouley too.
PS. Am I a bride after your own heart or tummy?

 

[Harriet]

Date: 5/25/2008 9:25:37 PM
Author: newsysuzy
One other thought...maybe post for suggestions on Chowhound!

Good idea. And egullet as well.

 

[FrekeChild]

Can you make the reservations for 9, and let me come? I won''t talk!!!

I''m so jealous Harriet...And I''m sorry that Per Se is closed. I read somewhere a long time ago that The French Laundry actually closes for a month or so every year for some reason. I bet they do the same thing with Per Se. Perhaps Bouchon as well.

What about Aureole? Or Alain Ducasse? Or Nobu?

I personally love Gramercy Tavern, but I doubt it''s really what you''re going for...If I had my choice though for such a special occasion, I''d probably go for Alain Ducasse....I''ve heard (from Chefs) that it''s phenomenal.

 

[Harriet]

I don't believe you.

Gramercy Tavern has great food, but the setting is a little rustic. I'll look into Ducasse. The original one has closed and I haven't heard much about its reincarnation.

We just moved and I can't find my Micheline Guide. Grr.

 

[scarlet16]

Date: 5/25/2008 9:35:24 PM
Author: Harriet

Date: 5/25/2008 4:00:07 PM

Author: surfgirl

Russian Tea Room is very elegant if that''s what you want.


What restaurant does Eric Ripert exec chef at? I forget...


The Box Tree is very pretty and wedding worthy.


Is Le Cirque still in the courtyard at The Palace? I cant remember...But it''s a very pretty wedding-ish locale.


If you want to do dinner and dancing you could do The Carlyle Hotel''s Lounge for dinner and old school jazz?

Le Bernardin, which is also on the list of restuarants to check.


Le Cirque is now at the Bloomberg building, but we''ve never eaten there.


How''s the food at the Carlyle?

I tired Le Cirque last summer...it was good but nothing spectacular, although it is a pretty restaurant.

 

[Harriet]

Thanks. I''m really hoping Jean Georges works out.

 

[Harriet]

Jean Georges won''t seat a party of 8. Drat. Must FBIL come?

 

[FrekeChild]

Whats plan C?

 

[Harriet]

We can (i) use Jean Georges'' private room; or (ii) try another restuarant like Bouley.

 

[diamondfan]

There was a thread about this a while back about this.

I thought you did not like Jean Georges because of the Trump International address issue, though you can certainly just list the street address.

I think a 5 star private chef route is a great plan.

I do not understand how they won't seat 8?

 

[Harriet]

That was back when I was planning on inviting more people. Not only is the private room in that hotel, it also has a nasty view. Jean Georges'' formal dining room is small. Perhaps they''re concerned about rowdy larger groups? They won''t budge on this, even though the Amex concierges are liasing with them. I repeat - must FBIL come?

 

[[email protected]]

This is kind of sad that reading this thread is the highlight of my day.
I still say Chanterelle..they are so good at what they do.
I love the Per Se idea more than anything....are you locked into the date?