Lunch in NYC

I recently spent a few days in New York and came away absolutely amazed at how cheap fine dining is at lunchtime currently. On Saturday I went to Jean Georges, a three star restaurant according to the Michelin Guide. Lunch is $29 for two courses and $14.50 for additional courses. While the menu is organized by plate size, one could order two "main" courses for $29. As we were hungry, we went with a three course lunch. I had brussel sprouts followed by slow cooked cod and finished with sweetbreads. My GF had foie gras brulee, sesame crab toast and roasted veal. The veal was a bit pedestrian but the overall quality of the meal was stunning. With a 6 oz. glass of gruner veltliner and a 6 oz. glass of 2005 Jadot Beaune Avaux, my total bill was about $125 not including tax and tip.

A few days later we had lunch at Eleven Madison Park, which currently has one Michelin Star. Prices were $28 for two courses and $14 for each additional course. I had a knockout tuna tartare, house made pasta with crab in Meyer lemon sauce and lamb three ways (loin, merguez sausage and something I suspect was lamb belly). My GF had beets, spaetzle with pork belly and a slow cooked Scottish salmon. We had a slight mix up and the waiter brought us a marrow covered beef tenderloin and left it while the salmon was finished. We added a glass of 2001 Chateau Grillet for $28 and left with a $112 tab before tax and tip.

Either of these restaurants would be at or near the top of the short list for fine dining if they were located in Chicago. The portions were ample and one could easily dine on 2 courses. To be able to do this for under $30 is quite remarkable. I did find wine prices to be a bit on the high side during my trip. At one restaurant, the markup looked to be at least five times cost. Eleven Madison had an amazing wine list and actually had interesting choices at all price levels.

If I were going back to New York any time in the near future, I'd make sure I had a reservation at Jean Georges for lunch before I left town. At Eleven Madison, we just pulled up to the bar at noon and didn't need a reservation. I would strongly recommend either of these places. I wish I could have a lunch like this in Chicago.

When the economy in Manhattan was cut in half and thousands of brokers and lawyers didn't get off the train from Jersey and Connecticut, the fancy places started doing this. Great opportunity that can't last. These spots will either close or raise prices.

Jean Georges has had this lunch menu for a long time. My wife and I had it back in 2006 or so, and I posted about it last year here.

Since moving to NYC, I've become a big fan of Tasting Table. In addition to their daily email update of restaurant news, openings and closings, they publish a free weekly newsletter of New York restaurant specials and dining deals like the ones deesher describes. If you're interested, you can subscribe to it here.

I second the praise for Jean Georges' lunch. I worked a job in New York where I was essentially taken out to lunch every day over the course of three months. Consequently, I had the opportunity to have lunch at every high-end restaurant in Manhattan (and at many of them, several times). Jean Georges was not only tops for quality, but at that price-point, was probably the best lunch deal in the city.

I spent a similar summer being taken out in Manhattan. I never really liked the Jean Georges lunch. Mealy sweetbreads, lackluster soups, and those weird marshmallows that left a strange aftertaste in my mouth.

Maybe I'm just a curmudgeon, but I'd rather spend $30 on some good sushi. Jean Georges, not a fan.

In 2005, I had an inexpensive lunch at the less expensive side of JG - the dessert was among the most memorable of that year (a strawberry shortcake); the rest of the lunch so-so. But dinner at JG was fantastic.