Per Se

Ate here two days ago and loved the whole experience. The food and presentation was great and the pacing was consistent throughout the entire night in which there were no long periods in between dishes (and definitely wasn’t rushed). Our two waiters Brian S. and Sandra were very attentive and friendly making the experience fantastic and worth every dollar spent.
One such example is that my girlfriend found her lamb to be a bit too gamy for her taste (as she does with most lambs) and our waiter Brian picked up on her displeasure right away and asked her if there was a problem to which she replied that the taste was a bit too strong and Brian offered to replace the dish but my girl said no it’s fine and continued to finish the rest of the plate. A short while later Brian came back out with two new dishes that wasn’t on the menu and served it to both of us because he knew my girlfriend did not enjoy the lamb (yes I got an extra dish too even though I thoroughly enjoyed my dish which was nice). The whole experience was comfortable and friendly in case I didn’t word it well enough.

Everyone who is somewhat aware of the culinary scene in NYC has heard of Per Se — I mean, how could you not? It is arguably one of the most talked about restaurants in the world, having called the best restaurant in NYC by the New York Times in 2011 and being ranked the third most expensive dining experience.
I was lucky enough to dine at Per Se as a group of 7 people. I worried that the service might be a bit off given the size of our table, but nothing could be further from the truth. From the moment we arrived to when we left, the service was absolutely impeccable. The dining staff was extremely knowledgeable, accommodating, and showed the utmost professionalism.
You have the option of choosing one of the two tasting menus (a nine-​course chef’s tasting menu or a nine-​course vegetable tasting menu) or order a la carte. When you are at Per Se, you have to opt for the tasting menu to get a full sense of what the restaurant offers. Per Se is very accommodating of dietary restrictions, so be sure to note that down when you make a reservation (you can also tell them at the restaurant, and they will adjust your food accordingly).
I won’t spoil the dinner by describing each and every course (…also, it’d take too long!), but if you get a chance, Per Se is definitely a once-​in-​a-​lifetime experience. You won’t regret it.

Quite literally the best meal I’ve ever had in my life.
Everything about this restaurant was spectacular – the service, the atmosphere, randomly sitting near Richard Jenkins, and the food.
As many people have said, THE PEARLS. I probably could have had that for all 9 courses and been just as happy. That is… until you get to the scallops. And then after the scallops you have the lamb and you realize that your tastebuds have reached the state of Nirvana but the rest of your body remains here on earth.
This was the first Michelin restaurant I have been to (Eleven Madison and Marcus), and I was not disappointed. Per Se was pricier than the other two, but I feel they more than made up for it in service and taste. I’m excited to go back after having tried the other 3-​star restaurants in NY.

Went here for my fiancée’s birthday. Service is outstanding. Awesome view of Columbus circle. Décor is basic but makes sense as the service is the great part. We lost track of the courses coming out haha. We were given a tour of the kitchen that is quite an operation. Really mind blowing how well everyone worked together and the cleanliness of the kitchen. Now with regards to the food we felt that it was a re-​purposing of fresh ingredients but not a whole lot of creativity used. The dessert course will sneak up on you but delightful. If you can it is quite an experience.

Could not wait to go to Per Se. Attending with several people who had been before helped. I was a bit nervous when I had read articles saying that the restaurant had lost some of it’s luster in recent years and I cannot comment since I have no basis for comparison. Compared to other Michelin stars, it was middle of the pack for me. Compared to other three and even two star, it was just okay. Being in the Time Warner building is a bit strange but I’ve been to other spots in there and so I knew what to expect. I won’t go through every course because the menu changes constantly but overall the food was very good, the plating was spectacular and the service was outstanding. Our server was a German woman who was extremely knowledgeable and engaging. We had drinks in the lounge area prior to dinner and I really enjoyed that space. I thought it was inviting and upscale without being stuffy. The dining room was really nice as well. The elevated seating was a bit strange but gave it an old feel. The volume was a bit high compared to other fine dining spots. Overall, all of us thought the wine pairings were not very well matched so if I go back, I would go by the bottle as opposed to pairings. Also I felt some of the plates were too large for a tasting menu.
What is great about a tasting menu is when it gets better throughout. Here, the hands down favorite was the first dish. The oysters and pearls was amazing. I could eat this everyday. The veal was my second favorite, although by the time I got to it, I was quite full so I couldn’t finish but wish I had cause it was extremely well executed. I’m not typically a dessert person but the desserts here were outstanding. There was a cappuccino ice cream that was just stellar. The plating on the desserts as well was just above and beyond. Chicken was somewhere in the menu as well and that had to have been sous vide cause it was extremely moist and juicy. However there was a rim of skin around it that was not crispy and was just off-​putting in texture. I was not a big fan of the abalone. The second dish was a rhubarb salad of sorts and that was good and plated exceptionally. I did not get to have the lamb although I heard that was amazing. Overall, I think my expectations were right on where I thought this would be. I’d go back but not do the pairings.

Love this place, one of my 3 favorite restaurants I have ever been to!
Not sure that I will be able to add anything that hasn’t already been said. Have been here twice and each time the experience was consistent, and that was high end service with amazing food.
Advice I could give you is come here on an empty stomach. The menu says it is a 9 course meal but it counts the desserts as 1 course. Each time there are about 4 – 5 desserts that are part of that 1 course. Add in the amuse and a palate cleanser and now you are around 15 course meal.
One frustrating thing is that they do get you with the supplements. At no point have we considered not getting the foie supplement instead of the salad course. If you do the course with truffles as a supplement they are pretty generous with how much they shave. They will also come back midway through that course and top off your truffles! Not sure it is worth the $ 100 but if you are going all out might as well indulge.
If you love french food this is one of the meccas in the US!

Awesome!
Every course was delicious and more delicious then the previous one. Loved the pearls, the scallop and the lamb. There where so many desserts that we couldn’t finish them all.

A very nice experience that has lived up to Per Se’s long held reputation as one of the worlds best restaurant. I suspect most people reflect on the damning NYT review in January but I found no reason to be reticent about dining here. The service was top notch. The staff are the perfect mix of knowledgeable and engaging and not condescending at all.
I will comment that my favorite dish was the grilled yellowtail, and you may actually order the $ 36 dish a la carte, along with a few other dishes, without receiving the full 5 or 7 course meal. Note: its appetizer size, you’d sit in the bar area of the restaurant in lieu of the dinning room, and part of dining at Per Se is the full service experience. But if you just want to say you dined at Per Se, this would be a more economical suggestion. Just be prepared to go to Shake Shack after.
The meal actually begins 2 days before you arrive when you’ll receive a phone call asking about dietary restrictions or special occasions.
After reaching the 4^th floor of the Time Warner building you reach the blue faux-​doors of the restaurant and are greeted by the host. Although I don’t care much for it being located in a shopping mall, the area in front of the restaurant is enclosed and a nice place to relax and wait and look onto Columbus Circle.
Unlike Jean George, Bouley, or Le Bernardin, Per Se has a pleasant seating arrangement where you actually sit next to your guest instead of across from them. And there is enough room around each table that one isn’t inadvertently eavesdropping on other tables.
The dishes were great but presentation is where Per Se earns it’s 3 Michelin stars. In terms of the inventiveness of the dishes, I would say that Per Se is very classic: lamb, fish and quail with great sauces. You won’t find any foamed vegetables here.
The food, is as everyone else describes. You’re going to order the oysters and pearls, which was a cream base with tapioca balls, 2 cooked oysters and a scoop of quality caviar.
The fois-​gras was like butter and I’d recommend it ($ 30 supplement) but I wouldn’t say it was the most amazing fois-​gras I have ever had. You do get to chose from 8 types of salt, which is unique.
The abalone was very good but I think the yellowtail was better. And the lamb for sure, it was done amazingly well.
As for desert, the cake was wonderful. One of the servers will come with a box of chocolates from which to chose as many as you’d wish. I will caution that these are «fancy» so they taste of poppy seeds and jam and you should feel comfortable to decline any.
When the bill comes the gratuity is included and you’ve already prepared yourself for the shock since making the reservation. The staff will walk you out and you’re appropriately full and satisfied with your decision to have a meal at Per Se.

Incredible experience at the three Michelin star Per Se– I must say, it was a once in a lifetime kind of experience. Everything was on point from start to finish. I was greeted warmly as I walked in and did not feel any sort of posh or rude atmosphere whatsoever. They took my coat without even asking my name (impressive) and sat us down to a round table facing the large windows and even had an ottoman for my purse. It is important to note that all of the tables face the large windows out looking Columbus circle and there is not a bad view/​seat in the house.
The service was without a doubt 5 star. Our waiter was very friendly and each dish was explained in great detail. We went for the 9 course chef tasting menu with a few glasses of wine for pairing. The famed oysters and pearls were so creamy and tasty one of the highlights of the night. The fish was cooked perfectly, and I absolutely loved the scallop. The food was all farm to table, for example the meat came from a farm in Pennsylvania which I really enjoyed hearing about. Even the butter came from a farm in California and was so delicious! I wasn’t that full until the assortment of desserts arrived. Cream cheese ice cream, donut, macaroons, chocolates the list goes on! It satisfied my sweet tooth 100%. Our waiter was even telling us how they have special gluten free flour that they use for any customers that want their meal gluten free — impressive. When we left we were given a gift of more chocolates and cookies! Although a bit pricey ~$ 350 without wine pairings (gratuity included) I would recommend if you are wanting to try one of New York’s Three Michelin Star restaurants.

At Per Se, you are basically paying for artwork …
Décor — magnificent, beautifully located in the Time Warner center overlooking Columbus Circle
Price range — $$$$ well worth it too
Staff — Presidential Service indeed!
Food — too pretty to eat (but I did)
ambiance — romantic, intimate

Last time I was here was 6 years ago… I remember then I was blown away by my meal… Food. Service:. Ambiance. Everything was perfect then… Today, however, was a different story.
My family came here for dinner tonight. We were greeted immediately by servers and everyone was very friendly and attentive. The issues began when the meal started. Servers were placing plates at different times. People who arrived at their spot first placed their food first while the last server rushed to place the dish down. Dishes were facing opposite directions for presentation. The greatest disappointment was finding multiple bones in their Dover sole. For a 3 star Michelin restaurant, I expected more. Without an apology, the plates were whisked away. Instead, we were served another fish dish later in the evening where the fish was overcooked and there was no balance of flavors (no apology either, was just told it was something «special»).
In terms of food, though, some of their dishes were amazing. Their appetizer, the oysters and caviar was amazing. A tad bit salty but a great balance of flavors. The lobster Mac and cheese was also great. Flavorful but quite heavy and a tad bit over salted. Would’ve liked some veggie to balance out the dish but nevertheless great. The quail breast was really good. Crispy skin and juicy meat. Probably one of the best dishes of the night. The rest of the dishes… Were just mediocre and some even sad. As I had mentioned earlier, I had found bone in the Dover sole. My sister-in-law’s fish was severely undercooked. Meat was still opaque and As previously stated, the food was just whisked away without an apology. Dishes were also over salted. The endive salad was less than memorable. Their egg custard while flavors were great was actually way too heavy and creamy.
Overall, per se was not the same for me this time around. Ambiance is still great. Service was acceptable in the sense that your cup was always filled (with water at least, wine not so much) and servers were friendly. However, don’t expect dishes to be uniform or dishes to be served together. The food was spotty. Some dishes were overly salted and heavy while others were an absolute delight… Bones and undercooked fish were present during this meal and no apology was ever provided. Will I be coming back anytime soon? Probably not since for this price point there are many other choices in New York city. Maybe in 6 years, I will forget this experience and give them another chance…

It might be a bit unfair to have it as 3 stars. and it’s always harder to evaluate Michelin star places b/​c of the price factor.
If price wasn’t included in the evaluation, clearly Per Se serves great food. Well cooked (for the most part see below), beautifully presented, meticulous attention to detail, but for me it’s not at the same level as French Laundry, or many other Michelin places i’ve visted (even those in NYC)
I didn’t indulge in the full menu. I can’t eat that much and I had a 2.5 hr limit before another appointment. Sat in the salon and picked 3 dishes off the menu.
The poached foie was interesting. but the brioche was a touch dry.
The panel of salt was quite fun to try out.
The broiled lobster was delish. but again it just lacks something. a spark. imagination?
It’s almost ‘boring’. classic dish. well made. but lacks a wow factor.
The grilled lamb was overcooked. it was completely dry. i sent it back and the refired version was good. Again lacking that ‘star’ quality. Tastes like many places that’s ½ the price. They brought out a truffle infused custard while refiring the lamb. that was WOW good. the only ‘wow’ dish i had was one i didn’t order. hmm.
No dessert — too full. A glass of Chablis — great value for by the glass, a glass of 09 Echo de Lynch — not good. too young, too oaky.
Overall, the food was very good. but once you factor in the price, it’s at best 3.5÷5 stars. This is NOTHING like the michelin 3 star places in other parts of the world (i.e. Paris), or even other 3 star places in NYC… and certainly not on par with French Laundry.
The chef needs to go on a retreat. come up with a bit more creativity. a bit more passion /​spark with each dish. If they improve, i’ll come back, but otherwise, far too many choices in NYC for your dining dollar.

Life is a box of PER SE chocolate… and I wish I could take the entire box of chocolate home at the end of the meal so I can relive the moments one bite at a time.
Savoring the ambrosial tasting menu at PER SE is a dream come true, and I thank my good friend for being such a sport and experience it with me. Not many would be mad enough to indulge a 4-​hour lunch at a price tag of $ 350/​each.
The blossoming of epiphyllum would be an appropriate metaphor for its daily changing menu. There are a total of 8 courses that invigorates your senses: sight, smell, taste and feel, and you can the choose your first two starters. Every dish is like a work or art, and all the flavors dance gloriously on your tongue and make you weep in delight.
I was feeling full by the 4^th course but I made a gallant effort to pull myself together to the end, mind you I did loosen up the tie on my dress few times to allow some wiggle room. Note to thyself to wear something comfortable for the meal. :)
Or to help distract yourself from feeling full, may I suggest to adore the exquisite details that are so thoughtfully integrated into the whole dining experience? For instance, apparently the pattern on the dinnerware was inspired from Thomas Keller’s cooking apron and they are exclusively made for Per Se, and that the two types of butters are sourced from a lady in Napa Valley and only available at French Laundry and Per Se.
We thoroughly enjoyed our chitchats with our servers who were absolutely courteous and friendly, and we were graciously invited to view the kitchen and the wine cellar at the end of our meal (OMG), AND they walked us out with a Per Se bag of a Relais & Chateaux book and two tins of Per Se chocolate cookies AND! The promise to mail me a copy of the signed Menu from Thomas Keller. *tears*
I’m going to wait for the mailman everyday until I receive it…:)
Cheerio~

Similar in so many ways to French Laundry, the food and service are superb. Price is similar with tip included (near $ 700 for two people). I won’t go into the details as others have but there’s about 9 courses with extensive dessert and you’ll definitely be full at the end. There’s take home tins with biscuits/​cookies.
Came here for a pre-​race dinner and it worked out fine.
Great views of Columbus Circle and Central Park.
Seems some changes may have been made since Pete Wells’ review in the NY Times as my service was pretty good.

I may have laughed vengefully when I read Pete Well’s review of Per Se. Everything about his review was true, and one of my biggest life regrets to this day is busting a weeks’ worth of hard-​earned money as a law student with a summer job (commuting 4 hours a day to Central Jersey!) on what I thought would be a rewarding experience and gift for myself and my parents.
First off, our server was condescending and rude when we decided not to order wine and when my mother needed a description repeated. We ordered the Chef’s Tasting Menu, which offered basically one choice per menu, with the rest requiring additional eye-​popping supplements. We were paying $ 300 per person, pre-​tax, but still felt like we were getting the short end of the stick here.
The best courses were the first amuse bouche (the cornets) and the famed Oysters and Pearls. It was all downhill from there. The rest of the food was incredibly uninspired and portions laughably scant. I vaguely remember a single scallop in an over-​salted cream sauce, with some bacon and chopped asparagus around it. How innovative! Definitely pushing the envelope here, Thomas Keller. And that was one of the more tasty dishes.
The grilled fillet of Gulf Coast amberjack was likewise oversalted from an unfortunate pairing with a miso-​mustard emulsion, which completely overwhelmed and failed to bring out the unique flavor of the delicate fish. Finally, the Snake River Farms’ Calotte de Boeuf, which I was looking forward to as an unapologetic carnivore, was… mediocre at best. The peppers, garlic «confit» and squash «en persillade» added little if anything to the beef. There was no burst of flavor, and it was one-​dimensional and forgettable.
Finally, dessert. Whereas we were still fairly hungry before dessert, we were stuffed afterwards with what can only be characterized as an aggravated assault of sugar, presumably to fill the large void left by the nearly non-​existent and unsatisfactory savory dishes. There was an assortment of chocolate, mignardises including macarons and nougats, a chocolate cake (from what I recall) in a half-​moon shape, and coffee semifreddo with donuts. We left feeling disappointed, upset (at our server and the food), and tired (from all the sugar). Never again.
Save your money and go to Bouley, Eleven Madison Park, The Modern, or Lincoln. Per Se is well past its prime, if it ever enjoyed such a time.

My experience having dinner here was beyond exceptional. We ordered Chef’s Tasting Menu with Prix Fixe $ 310 per person. The 8 courses meal was fantastic, everything tastes so delicious. We were also taken for a tour at the kitchen before when we finished out meal.
At the end of the meal we chose to take the dessert to go, because they are quite plenty: candies, chocolate truffles, macaroons and we could not eat them all at the restaurant.
So, why 3 stars instead of 5?
We were shocked when we arrived at the hotel and we opened our to go box: all of the candies, macaroons and chocolate are less than ¹⁄₃ from when they were presented on our table! Really!!! We spent about $ 2K at this restaurant and we were very disappointed that more than ²⁄₃ of our dessert was taken away!

Our supper at Per Se was the perfect first night in New York! We were greeted and quickly shown to our table overlooking Central Park. We were looking forward to the tasting menu and had some tough choices to make. After a short discussion with the sommelier he put together some wine pairings for Brenda and me.
Brenda started with oysters and sabayon of pearl tapioca paired with Billecart-​Salmon Rose while I started with the caviar paired with Jose Dhondt Blanc de Blancs. I loved the way Per Se prepared the classic caviar and Champagne!
A beautifully rich duck foie gras followed paired with 2008 Hermann Erdener Treppchen Auslese.
Turbot and vegetable courses were next paired with 2012 Domaine Latour-​Giraud Genevrieres.
My next course was a wonderful duck breast. Based on a discussion about my preferences the sommelier paired a 2012 Chapter 24 The Flood Pinot Noir. The duck and wine were outstanding.
Brenda’s next course was truffle lacquered veal sweetbread and shaved black winter truffles paired with 2010 Molino di Sant’Antimo Varco 84. This course and pairing was unbelievable!
The next course was a very flavourful venison paired with 1989 Château d’Armailhac
The desserts were served with Taylor Fladgate 30 year tawny port.
It was a fantastic evening of beautiful food with wine pairings based on our preferences.

Amazing service, very nice ambiance and comfortable seating, which is very important when your meal lasts for 3+ hours. However, when one comes to such a place the key is food. We chose 9 course non-​veggie menu. Each dish was like the work of art that looked too good to eat. Each course was accompanied by a story about the origin of the ingredients and the method of preparing. Each was presented most masterfully. Unfortunately the food looked much better than it tasted. The overall theme was salt — too much salt. One of the courses — Cobia — we did not eat: the fish was too hard that it couldn’t be cut or flaked and when I bit a piece off it tasted odd. The garnish was too salty. The amazing staff gave us a substitute, despite our assurances that it was not necessary, of truffle tagliatelle which is listed on the menu at $ 125 extra. This dish was an experience in taste and presentation: handmade most delicate pasta and freshly grated black truffle that was brought out in a humidor. Most of the sauce was on the bottom and my pasta was only lightly covered which made the truffle taste come through full force. I’m glad that I did not mix in the sauce all the way as it was… yes, TOO SALTY, and it would’ve overpowered everything. Another amazing dish was eggplant that I added from the veggie menu in substation for scallops. It had a perfect smoky taste. The third item of note was foie gras pâté ($ 25 or $ 30 extra). The rest of the main courses were unremarkable in taste. Even the «pearls» we’re over-​salted… Deserts, on the other hand, were great! Citrus cream roll was so refreshing and light! We skipped the cheese course and took our ganaches and macaroons to go as we were too full.
As it was an anniversary celebration we received a personalized menu and a pasty bouquet. The bill came to about $ 830, tip included (we each had one drink and coffee). We had $ 500 gift card which was for the Salon, however, was graciously accepted in the main dining room. Have it not been for the gift card, I would’ve felt that we overpaid as the taste was not commensurate with either the presentation or the service. 3 stars for taste, 5+ for the rest.

When we left The French Laundry, our level of expectation was set very high. Per Se resets the bar to a new level, surpassing our wildest dreams of what sort of experience we could have in a restaurant. Per Se is in a league of its own and deserves every accolade.
We were celebrating my wife’s birthday and they made the trip to New York memorable. The daily menu included a personal message to my wife. That was a great surprise.
We still aren’t sure who our «waiter» was and we attribute that to a well rounded, team approach to service. The level of attention made us feel like we were alone. Each dish was described with detail and any questions were answered with confidence. Each of them acted as if they shared ownership of this dish. When you have a team of people that are proud to sell your product, it shows.
The tasting menu was outstanding from start to finish. Of course we started with the Salmon Tartare and Oysters and Pearls. They added a few extras too: a creamy, savory custard served in an egg shell and a whitefish, carpaccio like salad.
We sampled scallops, foie gras, pork, beef, and turbot. And we finished with cheeses and a never ending dessert course. At TFL, I chose a favorite dish. This time it’s simply not possible. Each and every one of those courses left me wanting another serving. And each dish had several components making it impossible to imagine choosing a winner. They were all delicious pieces of culinary art.
The lunch was accompanied by champagne, Per Se signature cocktails, and even a beer. Perfect additions to a menu that needed no supporting roles.
The staff packed a to go bag and added the signed, personalized menu, chocolate candies from the box sent from heaven, and thinly wrapped, house made chocolate bars which we are enjoying now on our way home on the train.
What an experience! Happy Birthday! Per Se is at the top of my list and I can’t imagine it losing its spot!

Wow. just wow!
This was an amazing, memorable, once in a lifetime meal. We did the chef’s tasting menu, your only option in the main dining room. Every course was a delight! The greatest challenge was finding room for it all. Their signature dish of oysters and pearls was amazing! Each dish was memorable, from the simple gougeres to the (I think) sous vide duck breast. The service was outstanding such that each dish was presented in a way that you could not wait to taste each component. As it was my birthday, they even included a technically difficult, and incredibly delicious, multilayer birthday cake.
The service was attentive without being intrusive. Every table has an incredible view of the city from the top of Columbus Circle. The modern fireplace in the center of the main dining room is just what we were looking for on a cold winter night.
While it is expensive, I do think it is worth the expense given the overall experience delivered. And if the amazing meal wasn’t enough, you receive a bag of parting gifts when you leave with pastries and chocolate!
Of note, we attended during the «snowpocalypse» (when we were able to secure same day reservations after a cancellation at our original destination). We were worried that they would not be able to perform at their best during the storm given all the added challenges that brings. Despite the weather, Per Se delivered on all our expectations which after years of anticipation were extremely high.

The second American 3stars I tried. Online booking was convenient. Probably because this place is relatively expensive among other 3 stars so it is not difficult to find a table for dinner.
Located in the shopping center of Columbus circle. The upper half Times Warner seems to be famous as a money filthy place. I didn’t know but I could figure based on the list of restaurants on the window door. In one lobby there were over 10 elevators. Don’t know when that can become useful.
The gate who’s picture is all over Unilocal reviews, is actually very small. Entering the gate you will probably be seated on the waiting area. I love the coach. The dining area is just a wall behind.
They have the whole room facing the same direction, and there was a large window on that wall. You can see the Central Park, and it is just high enough so you won’t see the street.
Little bit of comment on the taste. It has been a long time. Tasting menu was the basic, then you choose if you want to change anything. I changed the main course to Wajyu, $ 100 more. I can’t remember all they served because the hatful friend of my took the menu. I believe they served the caviar thing as a routine. The sauce they put on that was divine. Wajyu was a bit cold at the time I ate it, so little oily. I asked how many dishes left, they told me all it left is desert. Then they brought at least 4 courses of deserts… they have their own factory in making chocolate so a lot of them were heavily based on chocolate. There was a Cinnamomum something served I didn’t want try it because I hate cinnamon, but I thought I would give it a try and it turned out to be great.
I think this place does have a good service, however I don’t think there is something so special that I will come back. Over all it is very pricey

What can I say about Per Se that hasn’t been said?
The experience is one of the best memories I have in my head
In terms of food, my fondest thoughts, lie
Breathe in its scent, let out a blissful sigh
Let it touch your tongue and waves of pleasure ensue
Food that tastes like this? Too good to be true
The service and ambiance are set to amaze
When you leave, your head will be left in a daze
Because places like Per Se are said to be more than they’re worth
But trust me when I say, it’s a foodie heaven on earth
I loved loved Per Se.
Sure, it was expensive.
Sure, one drink cost what I spend on three meals worth of food on a normal day.
Sure, they use the fanciest crystal for their drinks.
Sure, I have to put a third mortgage on my house to pay off the bill.
As sure I am of all the things I mentioned above, I’m sure Per Se was amazing in terms of everything: food, service, ambiance, friendliness, fun. Yes, Per Se was fun as hell. I was afraid it was going to be stuffy but the waiter and all the staff made us feel right at home. We ate in the lounge (no reservations needed!) and kind of did an a la carte tasting menu that we all shared. It was spectacular, probably the best tasting menu I’ve had! And they even offered to let us see the kitchen (I always love seeing the kitchen but usually I have to ask, this is the only place that offered). The sous chefs and staff were so friendly despite the obvious stress from working in such a fine and busy restaurant. I was astounded by everything that is Per Se, from the front of the house to the back. I will definitely return!
Thank you so much for everything, Per Se!

I thought it was going to be difficult to make reservations here but it wasn’t hard at all. My previous experiences with making reservations at fancy Michelin starred restaurants turned me off because I was using OpenTables app, which always showed no or low availability. So this time, I called Per Se about a month in advance and spoke with a person who gave me a bunch of times and days for the next month during my stay in NYC. It’s so much easier calling them instead of using Open Table!
Anyway, of course dinner was amazing. New flavors and textures I’ve never experienced. This is what separates 3 Michelin starred restaurants from the rest. Also, the prices already include a service charge so you’re already paying for gratuity in your meal. Dinner for 2 with wine was about $ 800. My favorites include pearls and oyster, peach sorbet with ginger beer, lamb and broccoli, and salmon ice cream cone thing. Chef Thomas Keller is the real deal. I would go back here.

This is my last 3-​starred Michelin journey here at New York City (including the once 3-​starred Daniel), apparently I have a lot to expect given the high water mark everyone else has given to per se and the fact that per se being regarded as the signature since the beginning. In order to make it more remarkable, I chose not to look at the menu beforehand and am waiting for per se to bring something splendid.
It indeed did. The meal started with two complementary bites. My favorite dish was the first one, «oyster and pearls». The oyster had the caviar flavor marinated inside, however did not lose its own independence. My second favorite dish was «calotte de beef», with beef being cooked medium rare and absorbed the soup base perfectly however not overwhelmingly. Dessert was always the best part of menu. With assorted chocolate present, I was able to choose from 24 different flavors!
Towards the end, our waiter brought us the cake as well as menu with chef’s signature. My dinner had concluded, yet my memory had just started. Thanks Per Se for bringing me everything tonight and I’m sure it’s gonna stay.

Schade, dass man nur 5 Sterne vergeben kann, denn das Per Se hat locker 10 verdient Es war mein drittes Restaurant von Thomas Keller und es steht dem Vorzeigeschiff French Laundry um nichts nach, ausser vielleicht der tollen Landschaft, aber gut, Manhattan ist auch traumhaft.
Ein Abend im Per Se ist ohne Frage teuer, aber es ist ein Erlebnis, das man sich einfach mal gegönnt haben muss. Das Essen, der Service, das Ambiente alles erstklassig, ich weiß heute noch wie mir die 7 Gänge auf der Zunge zergangen sind, hier gab es das weltbeste Foie Gras. Absolutely outstanding!
Thomas Keller kocht, um uns glücklich zu machen und das schafft er!

Gestern habe ich zum ersten Mal im per se gegessen. Tisch um 21:45 ist wohl das Schlauste, da ist man der (nicht das) Letzte und nicht in einem Slot;-) Perfektion in Reinkultur! Trotz drei Sterne nicht so spießig wie vergleichbare Läden in Frankreich. Unglaublich freundlicher Service und ein fantastischer Blick auf den Park! Ich wurde immer wieder überrascht, bei fast allen 8 Gängen! Bei den Weinen haben wir Nappa nicht verlassen und haben zwischendurch auch mal né «halbe Flasche bestellt, herrlich! Zugang durch né Mall ist etwas ungewöhnlich für so ein Laden aber wenn man erstmal drin ist: fantastisch!!!

Einmal sollte man das erlebt haben. Perfektion, aber wirklich überall.
Tischkultur, Teller, Präsentation und Umsetzung der Gerichte auf Weltniveau
Schade nur das die Gäste (Amerikaner) sich hier mit 2 – 3 seatings durchschleusen lassen. Mein Tip a la carte bestellen und viel Pausen erbeten.

PERFEKTION in allen Belangen — 5 Sterne sind zu wenig! Thomas Keller wird verdientermaßen in einem Atemzug mit Ducasse oder Robuchon genannt. Das Per Se im Time Warner Center (von dem man einen schönen Blick auf den Columbus Circle hat) bietet Kochkunst in höchster Vollendung. Wie bei international bekannten Köchen üblich, ist der Meister selbst fast nie in der Küche — ja nicht mal in derselben Stadt. Dies schmälert den Genuss indes nicht — die Küchenbrigade hat den Kochstil von Keller verinnerlicht und kocht auf höchstem Niveau — und meist hat der Chef selbst mittels Videoübertragung ins Stammlokal French Laundry in Nappa Valley Einblick ins Küchengeschehen.
Am besten fährt man mit dem 7-​Gang-​Tasting Menu (vielleicht ohne die Weinbegleitung, die das ganze ein wenig sehr teuer macht).
Bei nur 16 Tischen und dem enormen Andrang ist das Reservieren schwierig — die Tische werden exakt 2 Monate vorher telefonisch vergeben — und zwar zwischen 10 und 11 Uhr morgens new yorker Zeit! Und dann hat man die Wahl (wenn man Glück hat) zwischen 17.30 oder 21.45 Uhr! Wie in guten Restaurants in den USA üblich wird die Kreditkartennummer bei der Reservierung gespeichert und eine telefonische Bestätigung der Reservierung 48 Stunden vorher ist Pflicht! Bei unentschuldigtem Nichterscheinen wird die Kreditkarte belastet! Wenn man aber schließlich alle Hürden überwunden, im großzügigen aber gleichzeitig intimen Restaurant Platz genommen und endlich das Essen genossen hat, sind alle Frustrationen verflogen, die der Weg hierher vielleicht hervorgerufen hat. Man ist — auf das Straßenmeer Manhattans blickend — im kulinarischen Himmel angekommen!
Zwar holt einen spätestens die immens hohe Rechnung von dort wieder runter — aber auch dies sollte die Freude nicht trüben. Perfektion hat halt ihren (hier sehr hohen) Preis. Daher sollte man sich einen preislich erschwinglichen Wein aus der großen Weinkarte aussuchen und es bei diesem Ausflug in andere Sphären mal bei einer Flasche belassen.
Wer es schafft, sich außer auf seine Mitesser und die Kunst auf dem Teller noch auf das Publikum zu konzentrieren, der sei gewarnt: Natürlich trifft man in derart prestigeträchtigen Läden die üblichen Spesenritter mit ihren jungen Freundinnen, die lustlos im Essen stochern — aber was solls! Wir haben in den Himmel geschaut — was kratzt uns da der Nebentisch.

We made our reservations for my 40^th birthday and I can tell you that it was single-​handedly the best meal I’ve ever had. The experience was the best I ever had in a restaurant. I think that they go above and beyond and truly deserve the praise and accolades they’ve gotten over the years. The accommodated my dietary requests, took us on a tour of the kitchen, and gave me personalized menus for my birthday signed by the chef. The lunch menu essentially fed us for the whole day. I cannot tell you how much this was worth every penny.