Nougatine

This is clearly the best deal in NYC. You get Jean Georges service, ambiance and food at mid-range prices. And I'm not even talking about the prix fixe! Go to feel special without feeling you're being taken.

While I had been to Nougatine's deservedly well-known prix fixe lunch (a bargain indeed for this level of restaurant), I had never had dinner there until last night. As at lunch, the food was simply outstanding: the memory of the foie gras appetizer with a creme brulee-type topping will stay with me for quite awhile. The room was very relaxing and, happily, not deafeningly noisy, even though it was full. And the prices, even at dinner, are not outrageous by NYC standards. Unfortunately, the service was another question. My hosts were members of the family that owns a very well-known liquor brand and, naturally, ordered that brand. The restaurant no longer carries it, and the manager to whom we spoke made no attempt to resolve the situation (at these still-very-high prices, they could have sent someone out to buy a bottle at a nearby liquor store). In addition, although our first course arrived "on time," there was a 35-minute wait until we got our next course. I would return to the restaurant again for the excellent cuisine, but cannot fully recommend it, given the above.

THE place to go when you want a really nice restaurant with great atmosphere and amazing food. Really, the food is awesome, and you don't have to pay as much as Jean Georges. I don't know why this place gets any bad or mediocre reviews. Will go back again and again and again.

We were 2 couples who went for the 2009 summer restaurant week lunch. The table was ready promptly at the time of reservation, the waiter was amazing & very polite. We were kinda weary after reading in some reviews about snooty service ... not at all, very polite staff and informs about the dishes. One of us could not finish the second entree completely, so was inquired very politely by our waiter if the food was not cooked right. While clearing the plates, his non-empty plate was cleared away separately by the waiter and taken to a separate section probably to the chef? we didn't really get to know. But at the time of dessert we were politely served an additional dessert on the house which wasn't even part of the pre-fixe menu! We were absolutely blown away by this gesture that too when we had nothing to complain ... ambience great, food absolutely divine, service super, value - i would say the best in the city. Would highly recommend this place to everyone and am definitely going back there ... love it!

The mood and experience, with the exception of taste, was excellent. The Menu descriptions were disappointing and not conducive to ordering effectively. I ordered a calamari appetizer thinking it was cooked in a chili sauce. It was not it was fried to a consistency of a pork rind. The entrees were ok in flavor, but their side pairings were flat or just off. Texture of sauces didn't bode well to the meat or fish we ordered. I would not go again.

It was a nice chilly Sunday evening that my friends and I gathered to try out the Restaurant Week menu at Nougatine. The ambiance was perfect, intimately casual, and allowing for great catching up and conversation. The restaurant week menu, especially the skate with pumpkin seeds, was the best amongst other restaurant week food I've had. We also tried the roasted chicken and the oozing goat cheese fondue from the a la carte menu and both were very well prepared. Will return to try brunch.

Try the 4 course pre-fix at $35 -- it's certainly a very good value. But some items can be very disappointing. It's almost as if they're trying too hard to be inventive or to keep their Michelin star. Certain textures and flavors just don't work well together or, at least, fail to produce a satisfying result. Always very good dessert! The service is slow so go on a night when you want to relax and have no need to rush. Some of the waiters' English is incomprehensible.