By Olivia Cuccaro
For many years, New York City has been at the forefront of the US fine dining scene. Innovative chefs and masters of traditional techniques alike contribute to the ever-evolving restaurant arena that is Manhattan. In 2017, seven Manhattan restaurants have been awarded two Michelin stars and an extraordinary five hold a three-star rating. Such a cosmopolitan city is the perfect host for a vast array of cuisines and atmospheres. Our Elite Traveler readers have spoken, and these are the seven best restaurants in Manhattan today.
Eleven Madison Park
From celebrated Chef Daniel Humm, Eleven Madison Park if often mentioned as the top restaurant in Manhattan. The three-Michelin starred Relais & Châteaux restaurant serves modern French cuisine in a stunning Art Deco setting. Come for the roasted muscovy duck with lavender honey, turnips and figs and stay for the extensive beer, cocktail and wine lists.
Per Se
Opened in 2004, Per Se is Chef Thomas Keller’s East Coast effort – following The French Laundry in California. With three Michelin stars to its name, Per Se features a nine-course tasting menu and a nine-course vegetable tasting menu using classic French techniques and meticulously selected ingredients. A Relais & Châteaux property, Per Se’s dishes range from imperial Ossetra caviar to Hudson Valley moulard duck foie gras to milk-fed Yorkshire porcelet, complemented by a wine list spanning more than 2,000 bottles.
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Le Bernardin
At Le Bernardin, Chef Eric Ripert delivers outstanding seafood dishes in an elegant setting. The restaurant has been a longstanding favorite in Manhattan for its “Almost Raw,” “Barely Touched,” and “Lightly Cooked” cuisine, earning it three Michelin stars. The Chef’s Tasting menu features caviar tartare, langoustine and white tuna-Japanese wagyu, with room for dessert of course.
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Daniel
For two decades, Chef Daniel Boulud’s namesake restaurant has been a fine dining destination in Manhattan. The Relais & Châteaux restaurant holds two Michelin stars for its contemporary French cuisine served in a sumptuous setting. The seven-course Tasting Menu comprises dishes like rabbit saddle “porchetta” chorizo, cured lime yellowfin tuna and langoustine.
Jean-Georges
Romance abounds at Chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten’s three-Michelin starred Manhattan restaurant. The eponymous restaurant has been earning acclaim since its opening in 1997, presenting dishes with a myriad of influences from French to Asian. The prix fixe menu includes raw sea trout, baked chatham oysters and rack of lamb, while a Caviar Creations menu features Meyer lemon gelée and toasted egg yolk. A seasonal menu is also available, as is a separate Jean-Georges Menu.
The NoMad
Another feather in Chef Daniel Humm’s hat, The NoMad resides inside the trendy Manhattan hotel of the same name. Earning one Michelin star, the cuisine at The NoMad is inspired by Humm’s travels through Switzerland and the US. The decor is equally as posh as that of Eleven Madison Park, yet garners a more casual air about it. Order the buzzed-about whole-roasted chicken for two, or try the suckling pig confit or pan-seared scallops.
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Momofuku Ko
With two Michelin stars, the creative Ko serves a tasting menu utilizing local and seasonal ingredients. Chef David Chang’s restaurant is cool and contemporary, seating only 40 guests with 22 dining at the counter for views of the open kitchen. The menu changes based on market availability, making for a unique experience each time.
