A possible contender in crowded NYC - Lever House, NY, NY
We had wanted to go here awhile & tonight (11/7/06) seemed to be as good as any. We arrived & my wife was impressed by the decor-kind of reminded me of some old-fashioned post-modern situation, if that makes sense. We were given a nice booth in the back w/ a view of the entire place. After much debate, due to many delicious sounding choices on the menu (I wanted to try the veal) we went w/ the autumn tasting menu w/ wine pairings. I was hesitant about the TM because it seemed pricy & not enough offerings to justify-turned out to be plenty. She started w/ blackbery limeade cocktail & couldnt stop raving about it. 1st course was vitello tonnato & bresaola w/ avocado relish-the flavors were clean & meaty, just as I wanted them to be. 2nd-cod & braised brisket w/ mushrooms & carrots. Doubts faded as I savored the crispy, well-seasoned skin of the juicy cod mixed w/ the tender meatiness of the brisket. My wife thought the dry red w/ the cod/brisket (2003 piedmont cascina ca'rossa) was wonderful. 3rd-beef tenderloin w/ grilled foie gras & black truffle sauce. I thought the tenderloin was a bit chewy & we agreed that the meat overpowered the FG. She enjoyed it separate from the meat & didnt finish the dish. I was feeling full by time I ate my last bite. 4th-a plate of pear, quince & concord grape sorbets-all very nice & refreshing. The quince was especially creamy. Finally, dessert was a caramel almond cake w/ roasted apples & vanilla ice cream. I enjoyed the caramel dots around the dish & thought the cake was moist & wonderful like toffee. It was very good w/ the ice cream. The other wine pairings were very good, but due to lack of space here I cant go on. Total bill was $410 w/ tax & tip. Service was friendly but the staff was young, a bit sloppy & unpolished. Overall, I think the food is pretty good but could get lost in the competitive food world of NYC especially considering the high prices.

Pros: Interesting decor, friendly staff, good food
Cons: Can get noisy, high prices, a bit unpolished
Overall user rating (1-10): 7