Gilt Restaurant & Bar
(212) 891-8100
455 Madison Ave
New York,
NY
10022
40.7581
-73.9754
Neighborhoods: Midtown, Midtown Center
What People Are Saying About Gilt Restaurant & Bar
The Editor
Contributor
Citysearch
Strangely futuristic elements have been grafted onto the majestic Villard mansion, in the form of a weirdly lit geodesic dome which floats underneath the gilded walls and carved ceilings. But no amount of decor, from any era, can detract from the achievement of the menu, which is opulent, baroque, and very expensive: It needs to dazzle the restaurant's tourist clientele, who don't mind paying sky-high prices for a very rarefied kind of food. Chef Chris Lee is gone, but his modernized classics, like Tuna Wellington, live on, as does his particular brand of seasonal haute cuisine.
User Reviews
lhny12
March 14, 2009
The best all around dinner in Manhattan. If you don't like it here, you won't like it anywhere. I can promise you - you will have an amazing dinner... that is (if) you can get a reservation!
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Swavioli
February 11, 2008
My girlfriend and I were in the city for the weekend and, after looking over numerous restaurants and reading various reviews, we decided to go to Gilt. Living in Boston, as well as being from NY originally, and dining out on a fairly regular basis, I feel like I've eaten at some great establishments. However, my previous experiences and reviews of Gilt did not do my anticipation of the meal justice. Simply amazing is the only way I can describe the 2 hours of fine dinning at Gilt. From the pre-meal amuse bouche to the artistic and decadent desserts, everything was outstanding. The exquisite decor and architecture are only outdone by the beautiful presentation of food. Every course my girlfriend and I had was perfect. Her tuna tartare was accompanied by the most delicious tiny scallion pancakes I've ever had, and my hamachi sashimi was accented by Chef Lee's creation of jalapeno caviar (it?s amazing how he makes that). My main course, venison, was cooked perfectly and topped with a spiced red cabbage brandy jus; the meat melted in my mouth after the explosion of flavors. My girlfriend had the crispy sea bass in a saffron mussel broth; I can only image how good it was from the expressions on her face after each bite. The desserts were equally amazing and to top it off, after the meal we were presented with some designer chocolates. As other reviewers have said, for a fine dinning establishment, it was not stuffy at all. As you would expect in fine dining, the service was impeccable and timing was on point. However, the staff was extremely friendly and engaging, something you usually won?t experience at a high end restaurant. If you haven't already guessed, I would highly recommend Gilt to anyone looking for not only a great meal, but also a remarkable all around experience.
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todie4d
November 07, 2007
This place is completely amazing! The most beautiful restaurant space I have ever been to. I really can't say enough about our enjoyable experience. We were celebrating a birthday with a party of 4. We started off meeting our friends at the bar, but couldn't stay cause we were a tad late for our reservation. The staff was super attentive and helped us make our wine and chamagne selections. Our waiter gave us suggestions for our dinner selections, but not in an intrusive way. Dinner started with a single scallop tasting dish which was served beautifully and made a nice start ot the meal. The appetisers were all lovely; a butternut squash soup with cinnamon cotton candy made the most spectacular presentation. A friend opted for a $75 dollar upcharge upon which a ton of white truffles were shaved over her risotto (yum!). Dinner was good as well, 2 of us had the steak which was good but not too remarkable. The other 2 had the saffron fish dish which they were so content with I didn't get a chance to try them. Afterwards we had dessert, the most notable being the french toast w/ berry compote and some teas. Lastly a few designer chocolates to round out the evening. We dined, we saw, we conquered. We can't wait to visit again...
read full reviewThe Details on Gilt Restaurant & Bar
Prix Fixe Menus:
The main dining room is prix fixe only: $78 for three courses or $135 for a seven-course tasting menu.
Dine at Bar:
The more casual bar room offers a la carte fare like truffle fries ($12) and rock shrimp tempura with pineapple, toasted pine nuts and spicy aioli ($19).
What to Drink:
The voluminous, international wine list soars in coast, but the diner on a budget can choose from a handful of bottles under $50.
Know Before You Go:
Chef Chris Lee, who earned two Michelin stars for Gilt, is gone to Aureole.
What to Drink:
Nothing on the specialty cocktail menu is less than $20, and the voluminous wine list soars. Still, the diner on a budget can choose a handful of reds from Washington and Oregon and stay under $100 a bottle.
Look Good:
The dress code requires men to wear jackets; ladies should dress to impress.
Fun Fact:
As the setting for the TV show "Gossip Girl," Gilt has earned a cult following among Manhattan debutantes, who flock there for the truffled grilled cheese sandwich.
Category:
Payment Methods:
American Express, Visa, Diners Club, Discover, MasterCard
Restaurant Special Features:
Hotel Restaurants, Romantic Dining, Special Occasion Dining, Historic Setting, People Watching, Notable Wine List, Bar Scene, Prix Fixe Menu
