In 2011, The New York Times called Per Se the best restaurant in New York City. After experiencing the tasting menu at this 3 Michelin Starred restaurant, I can swiftly attest to that statement. Per Se is owned by Thomas Keller of French Laundry, Ad Hoc and Bouchon fame.
Food
The lunch tasting menu included the following 5 courses:
Gulf Coast Snapper Tartare
cucumber blossoms, tomato marmalade, arugula and olio verde
Australian Abalone
koshihikari rice, cutting celery, pickled cherries and coconut pudding
Hand Harvested Maine Sea Scallop
poached rhubarb, glazed sunchokes and black truffle purée
Liberty Farm’s Pekin Duck
sautéed foie gras, chanterelle mushrooms and royal Blenheim apricots
Chocolate Cheesecake
dulce de leche, candied peanuts and rum ice cream
The Other Stuff
At $185 per person for the lunch tasting menu, I walked in expecting pretentiousness but encountered exactly the opposite. Attentiveness and impeccable service became the maxim throughout our stay. Case in point: we were contentedly enjoying the warm bread and butter as our piece of abalone sat idle on our plates. The waiter came over and said, “I noticed your abalone was not consumed right away – warm, as intended by the chef. Allow me to get you a fresh piece.” That solidified, for me, Per Se as the epitome of Michelin Star-worthy service.
There are only 16 tables at Per Se where each table has a view overlooking Columbus Circle and the southwesterly corner of Central Park. The spaciousness of the decor speaks to its contemporary standards. The New York Times claims that “no other restaurant in New York City does a better job than Per Se of making personal and revelatory the process of spending hundreds and hundreds of dollars on food and drink.”
How to Reserve a Table
So you want to dine at Per Se? The question is, can you get a reservation? Per Se now accepts reservations exactly two months ahead to the day, precisely at 10 a.m., when the reservation line opens. Otherwise, try your luck on opentable. My friend, my mom and I attempted to make numerous long distance calls to Per Se during the day in efforts to secure a reservation. We were placed on waiting lists for lunch and dinner. I came to terms with the fact that we may not eat at Per Se until we finally learned of our acceptance the day before we flew to New York!
Be prepared, though, for the lengthy meal, with lunch running 3 hours. Make sure you dine at Per Se with someone you like!
Per Se
Lunch for 2 with custom wine paring: $542.20 USD
Rating: 3 Michelin Stars
Location: Time Warner Center, 10 Columbus Circle (at 60th Street), 4th Floor, Manhattan, New York City, United States
Planning Tip: Call (212) 823-9335 to make reservations two months in advance. Be prepared to redial and hold. Per Se requires a credit card to secure a reservation
Share your comments!