Bouley never reopening really hurts. For me, that ticked all the boxes for a fancy night out. Beautiful room, outstanding menu, little high end perks like the bread cart, and the apple wall entrance was perfectly inviting. They did all the simple things right without forcing an over the top avant garde dining experience.
MurrayPloppins
Bouley was my first fancy fancy fine dining experience. 25ish years later I still remember it quite vividly.
Jolendis
Les halles. Maybe not famous but certainly visited a lot.
gkndivebum
La Caravelle
Laridianresistance
Just personally, Le Coq Rico. I would stop by at the bar after work and get a cocktail and a gizzard salad, then eat a mille feuille. Or the Ile Flottante.
I think I mostly miss the desserts, lol.
ssndib25
Lunch at Bouley, one of my all time favorite meals
mrs_david_silva
Montrachet, then Bouley when he moved on from Montrachet.
kpscl
Went to Le Cote Basque as a child. My parents dressed up, I had to wear a velvet dress, my brother a suit and tie. It was amazing to me how the tables were so close together. I don’t specifically remember the food but I remember experience was mind blowing as a kid. It felt so fancy.
kriscrox
I’ve long moved away from NYC living abroad and was so happy and relieved to find my old local, Tartine, still going strong.
YorkvilleWalker
Le cirque in the ny palace days. 👌
Forsaken_View_327
Lucky Strike
nevrnotknitting
I love and had amazing meals at many of these!! I’ll add Picholine to the list, if only due to the AMAZING cheese cart.
I loved Artisinal Fromagerie too but don’t know how famous it was. It was an excellent bistro. Would have new years lunch there regularly.
Jourhmane
I miss Capsouto Freres too.
Calico_Chaos
Brasserie on 53rd. I loved that place so much.
Bobby_Brooklyn5
Chicken with Morels at Cote Basque.
909me1
Ahhh this era of NY dinning, the old timers are all dying off now 🙁
Affect-Hairy
Le Deux Gamin
Intelligent_Stardust
Robin des Bois in Carroll Gardens.
halscan
Payard on the UES was a favorite of mine
nyccameraman
Aureole on 61 Street & Madison was another iconic French accented American restaurant.
Sufficient-Laundry
The Quilted Giraffe.
I still remember my first bite of two of the courses forty years later.
dddddddddude
L’acajou in chelsea 🙁 excellent steak au poivre
agreenst
I remember La Caravelle, Bouley (and even Bouley Bakery), Le Perigord (the floating island dessert!) etc. but La Grenouille was by far the most impressive when it came to the interior decor.
SherbetCompetitive18
Le Cirque was such a classic, felt like stepping into another era. The service and atmosphere there were unmatched, its really sad to think how many of these gems are gone now.
35 Comments
I miss La petit auberge in Murray hill…
Florent in a MF landslide.
I miss Zengo in Murray Hill
Chanterelle was amazing
Perigord. Super old school.
Petrossian on 58th Street, such nostalgia!
La Grenouille, many moons ago.
[Laurent](https://iiif.nypl.org/iiif/3/2054337/full/%5E!760,760/0/default.jpg). 111 E 56th.
Sign of the Dove
Le Pavillon
Lutece
La Grenouille
La Perigord
La Caravelle
These were fine dining. Gone…
Bouley never reopening really hurts. For me, that ticked all the boxes for a fancy night out. Beautiful room, outstanding menu, little high end perks like the bread cart, and the apple wall entrance was perfectly inviting. They did all the simple things right without forcing an over the top avant garde dining experience.
Bouley was my first fancy fancy fine dining experience. 25ish years later I still remember it quite vividly.
Les halles. Maybe not famous but certainly visited a lot.
La Caravelle
Just personally, Le Coq Rico. I would stop by at the bar after work and get a cocktail and a gizzard salad, then eat a mille feuille. Or the Ile Flottante.
I think I mostly miss the desserts, lol.
Lunch at Bouley, one of my all time favorite meals
Montrachet, then Bouley when he moved on from Montrachet.
Went to Le Cote Basque as a child. My parents dressed up, I had to wear a velvet dress, my brother a suit and tie. It was amazing to me how the tables were so close together. I don’t specifically remember the food but I remember experience was mind blowing as a kid. It felt so fancy.
I’ve long moved away from NYC living abroad and was so happy and relieved to find my old local, Tartine, still going strong.
Le cirque in the ny palace days. 👌
Lucky Strike
I love and had amazing meals at many of these!! I’ll add Picholine to the list, if only due to the AMAZING cheese cart.
I loved Artisinal Fromagerie too but don’t know how famous it was. It was an excellent bistro. Would have new years lunch there regularly.
I miss Capsouto Freres too.
Brasserie on 53rd. I loved that place so much.
Chicken with Morels at Cote Basque.
Ahhh this era of NY dinning, the old timers are all dying off now 🙁
Le Deux Gamin
Robin des Bois in Carroll Gardens.
Payard on the UES was a favorite of mine
Aureole on 61 Street & Madison was another iconic French accented American restaurant.
The Quilted Giraffe.
I still remember my first bite of two of the courses forty years later.
L’acajou in chelsea 🙁 excellent steak au poivre
I remember La Caravelle, Bouley (and even Bouley Bakery), Le Perigord (the floating island dessert!) etc. but La Grenouille was by far the most impressive when it came to the interior decor.
Le Cirque was such a classic, felt like stepping into another era. The service and atmosphere there were unmatched, its really sad to think how many of these gems are gone now.
Le bateau ivre