Telepan

Excellent food, professional service and nice, soothing ambiance. I agree, however, with the reviewer who did not like the painting (or poster?) of the man in a baseball cap (I thought it looked like the chef who came out to talk to one of the tables!). It doesn't go with the decoration. But we loved everything and will be happy to come back.

What an incredible dinner! I had the four-course tasting menu, which means somewhat smaller portions -- just right for a leisurely meal. The signature smoked trout was the stuff of dreams. One bite and your eyes close in utter delight. Next was the lobster Bolognese. Not the same red sauce you think of with pasta, but a light, tomato-based sauce served with delectable bits of lobster on homemade spaghetti. A very savory, light "mid course." I next had the fish special, a fillet of sea bass, cooked to perfection, with minted zucchini. Dessert was panna cotta in a rhubarb sauce. Just wonderful. The service was fantastic -- our waiter not only knew everything about every item on the menu, but he ably guided us through the wine list, recommending a light red that went perfectly with each of our choices, and was on the low end, pricewise, at $40. My friends had the yellowtail and four-way pork, and the breast of duck. They loved theirs as much as I loved mine. Can't wait to return! I only hope I can get a reservation.

We loved this restaurant! The service was incredible. The food was marvelous. The rooms beautiful. We were especially happy with the portions - lately one gets teeny portions for so much money - we don't want to return, but this restaurant was generous, and I hope they don't change. My only criticsim - the ugly large painting of a man who looked a little like chairman Mao in the main dining area. It didn't belong in such a lovely room.

I had the tasting menu which is an unbelievable bargain. The food is delicious with nice sized portions. (The smoked trout appetizer is to die for!) I like the green decor, it is hip and still manages to seem warm and cozy.

I was anxious to tryTelepan since the reviews have been so favorable. I called several times, but wasn't able to get a reservation for when I needed one. Last night I had no trouble getting in, and I can see why. The atmosphere was pleasant, although the hostess was a bit pretentious. The food was excellent with a wonderful blend of flavors, However, we waited for over an hour for our main course to be served. Once the waiter took our order, we never saw him again until he presented the check as soon as our last bite was finished, and our forks were on the table. We love fine, relaxed dining, but this was a little too relaxed

I went for brunch the other day and was more than impressed. I am a food writer, so I have been pretty much everywhere. I started with trout and blini dish. Lush, soft, with a suprising kick at the end. Also, the quail and duck sausage was moist with just enough firmness and flavor. I had to eat fast, since everyone was literally swooning over these starters. Someone in my group had the cheese, egg, and bacon sandwich. Nice but more standard brunch fare. A burger with homemade pickles -- a nice touch that made the dish sing. And I had a pasta with poached egg and peas (forgot the name). It was complex and won everyone over. Finally, I finished off the meal with a banana cake sundae. Let's just say, we had no trouble finishing it off. In fact, one of my party insisted on cleaning the plate. You can imagine how good it was. As far as decor, I like the green. It's fresh and goes nicely with the organic and carefully chosen ingredients. And the service was friendly and helpful at every turn. I am looking forward to coming back for dinner.

I have now been here for dinner 3 times and this has become a firm favorite of ours on the UWS in only a short time. The food is terrific and atmosphere is good. However, I have noticed a deterioration in service levels since the restaurant opened. I hope this has only been due to its increased popularity and patronage. It is nice to see parts of the menu are continually changing but I do think the wine list (although reasonably extensive) becomes reasonably expensive rather too quickly. We will contiue to frequent this restaurant for the entire package (where the food certainly makes up for any other minor flaws) and hope that the service can again live up to the quality of the food and the environment. P.S Ask not to be seated near the exit to the kitchen/waiter station. It gets rather busy and for the price of the dining experience is a little off-putting.