01/24/09

THE BEST RESTAURANT IN NYC

by CCCHHH

GREAT FOOD!!! I ONLY EAT THIS GOOD IN PARIS!!!

DONT LEAVE WITHOUT TRYING THE APPLE TART!!!

AND THE PRICE FOR WHAT YOU GET IS INCREDIBLE

• Pros: GREAT FOOD

01/15/09

Unromantic, tiny portions, chilly atmosphere

by rodeleu

We were terribly disappointed with the evening. The meals were beautifully prepared and flavorful however the portions were extremely small and some had already cooled by the time they reached the table. Risotto was tasteless but the carrot cake was good albeit tiny.The wines were excellent although the wine list definitely favored the higer priced vintages, there were few that were reasonably priced. The rest rooms are typical European individual unisex and I found it distasteful to have to "put the seat down" when I entered to use the facilities, The Maze restaurant is not at all charming, it is reminisent of a first class airline lounge and the bar stools were not very comfortable.Definitely not a date place.

No one in our party felt that the meal was satisfying and after all, it is actually about eating isn't it? The elegance of the food was appreciated but one does not like to leave a restaurant hungry, especially when the bill for 4 is over $500 pre gratuities.

• Pros: food presentation
• Cons: tiny portions, lacking atmosphere, prices, stuffy staff

01/14/09

Lots of hot air and little food, will not return

by Belling

The food was well prepared and extremely fresh however the entire dining experience was not relaxing or very enjoyable. This restaurant has a rather chilly atmosphere, contemporary "high end caferateria" decor in the Maze section. The main dining room is comfortable and a bit more pleasant but both are too brightly lit and the atmosphere is futuristic and unwelcoming.The entire ordeal was simply overly dramatic from making the reservation throughout the entire evening. The reservationist was vague, unsure of availability and most difficult to deal with, also made one feel as though she was doing us a favor in even granting us a reservation yet the entire evening the room was more than half empty.

The staff is a very young and seemed inexperienced in extending any true hospitality, everything appeared scripted.Once seated bottled water was pushed which was fine except for the fact that both bottles were flat, they were replaced without incident.The wine list was quite dramatic with many elegant wines however the more reasonable $150 and under wines were lacking.We were a group of three and ordered 10 items on the menu and had our own tasting. All was very well done however the portions were smaller than any of us have ever seen and we are very frequent restaurant goers, here and abroad. Each time any food was served there was a full presentation and description, it all just became tiresome and over done.

We all felt there was no reason to ever return as this restaurant may have good food but it does not have the entire package.It is unfortuante that we also felt as though we had not actually enjoyed a meal as there was just too little food served, even with 10 courses plus dessert.All in all disappointing.

• Pros: Lovely, well prepared food.
• Cons: tiny portions, stiff service, no ambaince, unisex restrooms

10/07/08

Food good yet very expensive; service was horrible. Go for the cheese and dessert trolley.

by threemoons

I ate there for an important birthday. As per instructions, we arrived early--half an hour early on a cold day that was pouring rain. My folks and I went to sit in the loungey part of the bar, where we were promptly ignored. A snack of olives and cheese dressed in oil came without toothpicks or extra napkins, making eating messy (not cool when you're dressed to the nines), and requests for both items went unanswered. This when you consider that we were told we HAD to order snacks in order to sit at the little round tables as opposed to the bar. The bar area was EMPTY by the way; there was one other group at a table and 2 lonely-looking suits at the bar. When they did seat us, they reminded us of the obnoxious 2-hour dinner policy. We were the first people shepherded in to a vast and still empty dining room. It took forever to get water on the table, and they kept pushing bottled water vs. tapwater. Keeping our water glasses full wasn't a priority; trying to rush us through our $$$ wine was. The food itself was wonderful, as expected, but not really exciting or innovative. Yes they had foie gras as an appetizer, which was very tasty. The venison that I had was good, but the portion was appetizer-sized. The real star of the show was the dessert trolley and the cheese selection, which was very welcome given the teeny portions on dinner. The dessert cart was the best thing that night--truly a wonderful selection of handmade takes on childhood favorites. The cheese selection was very well curated, and the cheese-master guy was the first truly nice and pleasant staff member of the evening (promote him!!). Overall dinner was nice but I'm glad as hell I wasn't the one paying for it. Would consider going back for brunch, which is cheaper and still has the dessert/cheese option.

• Pros: Amazing desserts and legendary sweet cart.
• Cons: Snotty, rushed service, food isn't exactly innovative.

08/22/08

Excellent food, poor service

by learab

I just went to Gordon Ramsay for lunch, and I was very much looking forward to the food. However, I did not get to eat it. Our reservation was for 8 people, but we had 10 people show up. The staff said that they could not accomodate us with a bigger table or with an additional table. We had to split up our party, and I went to the casual dining room next door. The food was good, but the menu was more limited and traditional, not adventurous...mostly seafood, chicken, risotto...no quail, rabbit, short ribs, or steak. Throughout the course of the next hour and 45 minutes, the formal dining room never filled, and there were at least 5 tables empty. I was very disappointed with the service. My impression is that they were either faking exclusivity or they do not know how to manage reservations. There are plenty of other fabulous restaurants in the city that provide excellent service along with impeccable food. I will not be returning to Gordon Ramsay.

• Pros: Beautiful presentation, good food
• Cons: Service

05/04/08

A superb dining experience unlike anywhere else

by nycfoodie24

My boyfriend and I dined at The London last night for his birthday. I had been unable to make a reservation because I only called about a month before the date, but I was actually offered a table the day before off of the wait list. Overall, I found the experience of dining here extremely enjoyable. One of the best parts of the restaurant is that you walk through the rather noisy, family-filled bar and cafe through a large door into what is definitely one of the chic-est and most fancy rooms I have dined in. The tables are intimate, sitting a couple side by side rather than across from one another. The staff was extremely attentive throughout the meal. Actually, it was rather cleverly choreographed, as we were waited by at least 6 different servers throughout the night. My boyfriend and I both chose the 3 course meal for $100. The cocktail selection is mediocre, but the wine selections are endless. The only problem was that it took us almost 30 minutes to decipher the menu, which, even when terms are in English, are difficult to discern. For example, I ordered the Alaskan halibut without having any idea what "hearts of palm bone marrow" were. Although the staff was extremely attentive, our server's English was unclear, so our questions about the menu went unanswered. Also, we had to ask twice for extra bread. My boyfriend was not overly impressed with the rabbit appetizer he ordered, but I thought the tuna appetizer was heavenly. The "hearts of palm" and halibut were very good as well, and the chocolate souffle dessert was outstanding. We spent a leisurely almost 3 hours at the restaurant, and the bill for 2 was, with gratuity, over 300 dollars. While this might not be the best NY restaurant I've dined at, the choreographed service along with the "extras" (like bon bons from a cart at the end of the meal), plus the wonderfully quiet and romantic atmosphere, absolutely make this restaurant a must try. You will feel like a king.

• Pros: Excellent service, lots of extras throughout the meal, excellent fish entrees
• Cons: The cost - yes, it's very good, but it's very expensive. You might be able to get better value somewhere else.

03/21/08

Extraordinary Evening

by sharontodd

I was there in December for my birthday with 6 of my friends and family and I can find no fault in ANYTHING. The service was first class, the food was perfect and the wine was splendid. When you go there, please ask for a tour of the kitchen...it's quite a treat. I highly recommend this restaurant.

• Cons:  None

02/21/08

Food is a mediocre highlight

by deacons317

The food here was very average, but the ambiance and the service were very remarkable below average.

The appetizers, though small and not satisfying, are somewhat of a highlight, though the rest of the meal was severely lacking in flavor and proper preparation. Most dishes were overcooked or simply poorly flavored.

Chef Ramsey should consider lending his talent to his restaurants instead of just his name. This was extraordinarily disappointing and overvalued. Not recommended in the slightest.

• Pros: Appetizers, Overpriced Drinks
• Cons: Service, Ambience, Staff

02/20/08

Gordon Ramsay at The London

by PeterJezeph

Nel and I flew in from London especially to celebrate Valentine's evening together at Gordon Ramsay's fine dining room in The London NYC., where we were staying for the weekend. From the moment we walked into this exquisite theatre of food and wine we knew this would be an historic show. We were immediately warmed by the unique ambiance and decor of the room; from the expertly spaced and spacious tables to the friendly, professional and courteous service which we received throughout the evening. The set menu of 8 courses were expertly paired with exceptional wines chosen by Chef Sommelier, Shawn Paul. The amouse bouche quickly followed our welcoming pink champagne. Then a creative replacement for the foie gras was soon agreed and consumed with joy. Each successive course followed in perfect rythmn, elegant consistency and superb presentation from Maine diver scallops, tiger prawn ravioli, pan seared black cod with Caraquet oysters, Brandt beef fillet with Kobe shortribs, passion fruit cream with coconut and mint granite, raspberry cremeux and Kilchurn honeycomb culminating in the by-then very hazy view of our fellow diners each receiving a parting red rose. The bill for this beautiful evening was worth every few dollars for each exquisite minute. Book your places as soon as you can to share this special dining experience with someone you love. We will be returning very shortly for another celebration and have aleady recommended this wonderful room to many of our friends throughout the World.... Gordon, give the guys a rise!

• Pros: Ambience, Fine dining experience, Food, Wine pairing, Service.
• Cons:  limited choice of breads

12/10/07

Fantastic Food

by wtaw71

I have gone there about 8 times in the last six months Does that tell you something? It's amazing food with excellent service. Every item we tried, we liked. The White Asparagus Salad, the scallops, the foie gra dishes, the sable fish (no longer on the menu), the lamb, the cheese plates... We have a hard time deciding what to get because everything is great. I typically order three items and am left with no room for dessert. My boyfriend gets four and sometimes dessert. You will not regret going here. The wait staff and hosts are all very competent, efficient, and friendly. They didn't get Michelin Star for the celebrity of Gordon Ramsay - they got it because their food and service is excellent! Also, they have an excellent fixed price lunch every day - it's a great deal for three courses!

• Pros: Excellent Food and Service
• Cons: Pricey, albeit worth it