Bouley

Took my boyfriend here a few hours ago, and I am speechless. The decor is heavenly, very romantic, relaxing and not stuffy at all, and I was expecting it. The scent of the apples at the entrance is breath taking. Moving on, when making reservations,(2 days ago), I mentioned that this will be his birthday dinner, didn't think anyone would pay much mind to it. When we arrived (20 min early) we were seated immediately. We had 2 main waiters and 3 other men. We decided to stick with the tasting menu ($95pp), the server was very helpful when we were deciding whether or not to go with the wine pairing, although it was significantly more expensive, he was not by any means pressuring and we decided against it. The 1st "course" came and it was simple, but heavenly (I have ate in many 4 star restaurants, none so memorable: ex, Le Bernardin, Jean Georges), 2nd "course," both mine and my boyfriend's were delicious (he had a tuna dish; I had a phyllo crusted scallops...mmmm). Anyway, the Fois Grass wrapped in cabbage was outstanding. Skipping through, the dessert came and I was a little disappointed when there was no candle in his chocolate soufflé (which was outstanding, paired with 3 scoops of coffee, vanilla beans, and dark choc ice cream), moments later a crème brulee (on the house) arrived with a "Happy Birthday" plate with a candle. The brulee was outstanding, creamy & perfect! Another few moments later we were served (also on the house) strawberries layered with foam, compliments from the pastry chef (very light & refreshing, finished my meal with it). When leaving, were given a cake from their bakery for his Birthday. The food, service, and everything was absolutely outstanding. The food was very memorable and worth every $. We will definitely be back. And another plus: very few out of town, umm..."experts" all true NYorkers with sophisticated palates and not expecting their food to speak to them for their $$ Too many +'s to list, def. needs to be tried.

The original Bouley is back! For a time I had been disappointed with the menu but now I am delighted. A few of us went for lunch. We all felt it a wonderful experience and a bargain at that. Everything was beautiful!!

I came here for dinner. We got the pre-fix and what my friends have been saying about their past experiences at this restaurant were far better than what I actually experienced. It was a beautiful tone-setter when we walked into the restaurant: they have a mini foyer filled with fresh apples that lightly scented the area and set the tone for a wonderful experience. The decor is beautiful and intimate...not too decadent but still very nice...a great place to celebrate a special occasion. The food was good but I expected better.....nothing super unusual that stands out in my mind. However, everything was cooked perfectly and the sauces were good and tasty. However, the service was impeccable! We came to eat late and never felt rushed. Our servers were very attentative and always visible in case we needed anything. Overall the dining experience was wonderful....except the food could have been a bit more unique in flavors. I would come back!

I've been dinning here for past 15 years for several times a year. The food is very flavorefull and refined, but I think the chef, Bouley, stop creating new disheses. Almost the same disheses are on the menu for a past decade.. That's ok for customers who seek for consistancy, but it's getting boring. The quolity of service seems going down. The past few vists were pretty bad. It was rush and unfriendly service, as if they wanted us to eat quickly and leave. We were very uncomfortable there. I don't know if I want to go back there again.

Have eaten here several times & it is consistently wonderful. Stopped by for lunch while serving jury duty - had no reservation, was dressed casually & eating by myself. The reception was warm & welcoming. Food was quite wonderful: fresh & flavorful without being overly fussy. Service was professional & unintrusive. A superb dining experience (& also a truly amazing value at lunch).

I have been to Bouley on a few occassions - for both social reasons and for work The food is okay but not what I expect from what has been deemed a top restaurant. The service is unfriendly - like they are doing you a favor by allowing you to spend money there and eat their food. The room? It's very pretty. When I go to a top restaurant (or any restaurant), I want to feel comfortable and welcomed. I also want to be blown away by at least one truly memorable dish. Bouley falls short in all of the above.

Having dined at the city's other French restaurants, this is the favorite - better food than La Gren, less pretentious than Daniel, and better everything than Picholine. From the smell of fresh apples when you walk inside to the lovely breakfast bread handed out when you walk out the door, it's a perfect experience. The fois gras is absolutely the best I've ever had.