I'm not kidding when I tell people that this restaurant gave me THE BEST MEAL OF MY ENTIRE LIFE. I have never had a more perfect meal and dinner experience than at Daniel. This place deserves over 5 stars....100/5!! By far, my favorite restaurant ever and nothing can compare! Where to start... Atmosphere: Quiet, classy, very formal dress code. Men are required to wear a jacket. There's a lounge and coat check when you enter. Make reservations ahead of time. Service: Exceptional!!!! Our waiter was extremely personable and made us feel like celebrities there. Never had such phenomenal service. The waiter had asked if my friend and I were celebrating any special occasion. Although I said no, I had mention that we were visiting New York since I had just graduated school. To my surprise, the waiter brought out an extra dessert at the end of meal that said 'Congratulations' on it, for my graduation accomplishment. Such a thoughtful gesture! Food: Gosh, words cannot describe the quality of this meal. Quality, quality, quality. There are chef tasting specials that are included as part of your meal. After ordering, a mini tray of different carrot purees was brought out. It didn't taste like carrot at all! I did the three course prix fixe menu, which was absolutely worth the money! We also added wine with our meal. Everything is beyond PERFECT and be sure to savor every single bite you take, whether it's the appetizer, main course, or dessert. They even bring out a mini dessert tasting tray, aside from your dessert! Everything seems to melt in your mouth. I guarantee that you won't find a meal better than Daniel. If you do, then the world must be coming to an end.. read more

Very good but would rather go to some other restaurants (Michelin) if paying a similar price. Very good service and nice environment, but there needs to be something more that stands out when you pay this amount. And you certainly can get it at other places. One and done. read more

An excellent experience! The staff was fantastic, knowledgable, attentive, without any pretension at all. They listened to my specific dietary concerns and happily made adjustments to the menu. The table we had was excellent! My husband arranged for a private table for my birthday and it was lovely and romantic. Dinner took a comfortable three hours +. The interior was beautiful! We had the three course price fixe, but it felt like ten courses with the multiple amuse bouche and an epic amount of deserts! A painfully pleasurable experience. Our menu: rated good, great, excellent, outstanding - nothing was bad FYI Excellent Perfect Cocktail: V.I.C - Herradura Silver, Jalapeño Infused Ilegal Mezcal, Yellow Chartreuse, Cocchi Americano, Celery Bitters Good Amuse Bouche trio featuring eggplant: salmon, octopus Great Amuse Bouche with half roasted eggplant, tapioca, pepper coullis, herbs, corn, tamarind. Great Wine: SANCERRE, Domaine Franck & Jean-François Bailly "Chavignol " 2012 Excellent Selection of fresh breads: multigrain, garlic, olive, butter, sourdough, baguette. With Amazing Dairy Farm salted butter, from Hamilton, NY Excellent Appetizers: BUTTER POACHED JADE TIGER ABALONE WITH SEA BUCKTHORN, Sake "Beurre Blanc", Braised Escarole, Short Grain Rice Croquette SICILIAN PISTACHIO AND LICORICE CRUSTED MAINE SEA SCALLOPS Gourgane Panisse, Spinach, Sauce Diable Outstanding main courses: OVEN BAKED BLACK SEA BASS WITH SYRAH SAUCE Oregano-Zucchini Millefeuille and Tempura Cipollini Onion Marmalade, Green Peppercorn-Potato Duchesse ROASTED QUÉBEC SUCKLING PIG WITH SUMAC Tuscan Kale, Caramelized Black Mission Figs, Bok Choy Tooooo many Deserts: Excellent KENYAN COFFEE GANACHE, Dark Chocolate Crémeux, Rice Crispy, Chocolate Sablé, Coffee Ice Cream Good MELON PROVENÇAL, Orange Blossom Moelleux, Lemon Curd, Calisson, Blueberry-Violet Jus Excellent PISTACHIO DACQUOISE, Araguani Parfait, White Chocolate Crisp, Sicilian Pistachio Ice Cream Great Selection of Petit Fours & Macaroons Great Warm Madeleines Great Handmade Chocolates: praline, limoncello, apricot Great Espresso Yum! Yum! Yum! read more

"Hi, my name is Daniel." - - - - - "Oh my God, I am such a big fan of yours, I've been to all of your restaurants and I love your food!" I sounded like I was meeting a rock star. But I WAS meeting a rock star- more like a food God, an extremely friendly and personable one. He casually sat with us at the bar as we waited for other guests to arrive. I told him about YELP. Yes, I did. And he asked me how to spell it. I told him not to worry, his reviews on YELP are all really good. I had a conversation with Daniel Boulud, yes I did- and it wasn't in a dream or in my head! Obviously the experience was amazing, but the food itself was quite good too: 1. FOIE GRAS TERRINE WITH MARCONA ALMOND - Kumquat-Date Napoléon, Mâche, Asian Pear 2. DUO OF HAMACHI - En Tartare with Romaine Lettuce, Wasabi Tandoori Spiced with Pickled Onions 3. PAPRIKA CRUSTED MAINE LOBSTER TAIL - Broccolini, Pine Nut Gremolata, Piquillo Coulis 4. CRISPY SALMON WITH TARRAGON CREAM - Daikon Sauerkraut, Salsify, Smoked Bacon 5. DUO OF DRY AGED BLACK ANGUS BEEF - Red Wine Braised Short Rib with Sunchokes Seared Rib Eye with Hazelnut-Potato Croquette 6. TAINORI CHOCOLATE DACQUOISE WITH RICE CRISPY - Lemon Curd, Dark Chocolate Ice Cream Daniel Boulud showcases the main ingredient in a simple dish. It really is more about extracting the flavor from the protein than adding for flavor. Favorite dishes include the lobster tail and the black angus beef. The lobster tail was so warm, inviting and comforting. Everyone at our table was savoring each bite slowly so to prolong the bliss as much as possible. The braised short ribs were so tender I really did not have any use for a knife. The sunchokes and potato croquettes were a wonderful addition to the dish. The salmon dish was so incredibly flavorful, Mr. Boulud is truly a master chef. Never have I tasted anything so perfectly seasoned. The desert was a wonderful showcase of how delectable chocolate is. Combining chocolate mousse with lemon curd was a brilliant move. The dish of petite fours were so beautiful it was a pity to watch each piece go. As we were celebrating two occasions, they were nice enough to bring out two other desert dishes with candles. Service was impeccable, in every sense of the word. Mr Boulud walked around his restaurant greeting guests, happily posing for pictures and it is quite apparent that his waitstaff thoroughly enjoy working for him. They do anything and everything they can to keep guests happy and satisfied. I walked out of the restaurant with a huge smile on my face, and a signed copy of the menu in hand. read more

There's not much I can say that others haven't already mentioned before. Daniel is a dining experience--- you go in knowing that. It's superb service, food and atmosphere. Definitely reserved for special occasions and make sure it's the star act of your night - meaning, do NOT plan for anything to occur after or before. They'll hold your reservation for 30 minutes past your start time, but be prepared for a solid 4 hour meal with many courses and much opportunity to chat with your fellow dining companions and bask in the opulence that surrounds you. Only real downside worth mentioning is that early in the evening, it's very quiet and somewhat awkward to hold initial conversation due to that oppressive silence. Our reservations were for 6 or 6:30 (I can't remember), but the place filled up and rose to a natural, comfortable volume level by around 7:30 or so. And then it was bopping ALL. NIGHT. LONG. We ended up actually staying there after and heading to the bar for last call - and really felt no need to go anywhere else, because it's just such a great place to be and you loathe ending the evening and becoming a plebeian again! But keep in mind, as nice as Daniel is, the atmosphere is very friendly and approachable. I've been twice and never felt like there was an attitude from the staff or fellow diners- which just really makes the whole experience that much more enjoyable. As for the food itself, oh gosh - what isn't amazing on this menu? So I've never done the tasting menu, but I do always get the 3-course price fixe. I also always get the foie gras for the first course, because it is melt-in-your-mouth delicious. So rich and decadent, but really worth the indulgence. For the main, I most recently got the sea bass, which they are famous for - and they are famous for it FOR A REASON, but have also tried the black cod, which was also delicious. For dessert, I have pretty much tried everything on the menu and a bad option does not exist. Keep in mind dessert also comes with petit fours and some amazing warm cookies. SO MUCH FOOD. Another highlight is the circling bread tray -- all the options are good options- and the butter they serve it with is real, creamy, delicious butter - usually they give you two options to choose from. Also highly recommend the cheese dessert option. It's worth the up-charge to get the cheese cart rolled over to you and the cheeses presented with such fanfare. And yes, it's expensive but wow- what a night that you get for the money. Top notch from start to finish - a unique meal flawlessly served and presented by about 10 people constantly circling your table and ensuring you're being taken care of. If you are in the mood to splurge, then do it. You will not regret it. read more

Things I liked about Daniel: * Being informed that the correct pronunciation is "dan-YELL" * Bartenders who stir their ingredients with one hand behind their back * Incredibly polite and mannered servers, sans pretentiousness * Purse stools (had no idea these existed) * More silverware than I know what to do with (especially the "sauce spoon") * Vegetarian menu available (I'm not vegan, but this precluded one from eliciting the typical complaints) * Sautéed foie gras (so incredibly rich, it just melts in your mouth) * Dover Sole (fork flakey, no knife necessary) * Chocolate and Peanut Butter Ganache + Pomegranate sorbet (enough said) * Sautéed foie gras (it was that good that it deserves two mentions) Daniel is an excellent restaurant, albeit only one I could afford to frequent on very special occasions. If in fact you are looking for a very high class dining experience, I have yet to see much that can compete with Daniel. There really were no complaints. read more

I leave in LA and made reservations for my parents 50th anniversary who are currently traveling from Europe. The entire process of setting the reservation for this very special evening went without a hitch. Id like to thank everyone at Daniel from the polite and courteous ladies I spoke with over the phone to set it all up, to the amazing staff who made sure my parents had the most outstanding and amazing experience and of course the food which was spectacular. Thank you Restaurant Daniel. read more

I have been eating at Daniel for 9 years (it will be 10 in April). I have enjoyed every single meal there until my last experience on Tuesday. I hate to even write this review since I am such a fan....My reservation was at 9:15 and we were seated at 9:30. Once seated, a server with an injury to his forehead came over with an attitude. My husband requested menus to come right away since we were hungry and ready to eat and preferred a speedier meal. He clearly did not like this. When we ordered our meal I also requested a glass of rose champagne from the less than happy waiter. He said "i will bring it right away"...flash forward 20 minutes later and I still did not have it. I finally asked another server if it was possible to have a glass of rose. He did bring it right away and not one ounce of attitude was given. NEVER EVER has anyone ever had an attitude at Daniel. We were shocked. So, not only was service wonky THEN someone had a baby at the restaurant. I could hear it making noise while we ate. It's not very sexy or relaxing to hear baby noises. Who brings a baby to a 3 hour meal? The couple with the baby was there before we got there and was still there when we left. That seems like child abuse. The food, as always, was interesting and an adventure but the service and the room is what we come there for on top of the excellent food. It's a package deal. Daniel? What happened to your impeccable service standards? read more

As Stradivarius is to stringed instruments, Shakespeare to playwrights and Ichiro to Japanese baseball players, so Daniel is to other restaurants. It's that good. My lovely wife and I decided to try it after reading a review by Ruth Reichi, the incredibly knowledgeable and rigorous New York Times food critic. In a wonderful piece of deliberate understatement she calls it "quite a ride" and awards a very rare but coveted four stars. I can only agree. A cheap ride, though, it is not. We ordered the five course tasting at $132, with wine flight for an additional $65. With taxes and tip the total came to $600 for the two of us. There is also an eight-course "Grand Tasting" for $175 paired with a $85 wine flight. Had we ordered a bottle or two from the list I'm sure we could have easily spent $500-700 a person. Service was, as other Yelper's note, absolutely wonderful. Expensive French restaurants often forget that their function is making guests happy. I can't believe I'm the only one who fears that a badly pronounced order for Vichyssoise or Soupe D'Haricot (bean soup) will lead to a deep if slightly smirking bow and an under-the-breath "Je vais vous apporter de l'eau de vaiselle sale. Vous ne verrez aucune difference" (I will bring you dirty dish water, you will never know the difference). Have no fear of that at Daniel. The staff manages to be friendly without feeling phony, knowledgeable without a trace of condensation and always available without being obsequious. The food and wine pairings were absolutely incomparable. Rather than try to describe them myself I urge you to read what other Yelpers say, read Ruth Reichl's review (its contained in the book Garlic and Sapphires), or best of all, try it yourself. My only regret is not having dressed better. Daniel requires men wear a coat, and I did. However, it was with a California business casual set of Khakis and a polo shirt.. The restaurant is very carefully laid out to have no bad tables, but I couldn't help but feel that our table along the outer periphery was ever so slightly less equal than others. I also noticed we were next to another table of younger and less formally dressed people, so likely better clothes do mean a better table. However, I wished I'd dressed better mainly because I want to show respect to the restaurant and the truly remarkable experience it provides. read more

Went for an early Birthday dinner celebration. Meal and service was impeccable. Only sad thing is their renown molten chocolate cake is no longer on the menu. Worth the money and recommend if you are celebrating a special occasion read more

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Once again, certain restaurants shouldn't be on Yelp. There should be a higher level of Yelp for places like Daniel. I'd fear some idiot would give it one star because they didn't like their margarita or were pissed because the food was so French. I can't recall what I had on my recent visit. I didn't take notes or stupid photos. You're at Daniel. Professional photographers have shot photos of all the food with proper lighting and all that. Let's just stop it. Enjoy your meal for once. What's special about Daniel is not just the food but the whole experience. The staff trained and working at levels of service that you just don't get that often. Things are just taken care of. They handle the details so you don't have to worry about it. It's warm and inviting. It's the experience. It's the love. It's the dedication to service. Holy crap. The wine list. Two pages of Chateau d'Yquem! read more

Daniel really is as good as any restaurant can get. When I entered the what was deemed "food palace", it evoked a feeling of traditional with modern accents. A woman in black caught me off guard as she greeted me at the entrance and took my coat, followed by the friendly receptionist, waiting eagerly to cross my name off the reservations list. We were brought into the main dining room, which had an airy palazzo feeling but with modern accents such as the added frosted glass panels along the ballestry. The waiter who served our table was very professional without being too stuffy presented us with our menus. Being a very authentic French restaurant, Daniel focuses on the best ingredients, creating dishes that are simple, yet unique What made the restaurant differ from a great restaurant, and such a highly acclaimed restaurant, was the way that it stuck to its philosophy and food integrity, constantly changing and creating new dishes, as well as the high level of service and freebies, making the restaurant seem less like a cost and more of an experience. It made me feel welcomed and not a place out to get your money with gimmicky overpriced foods and drinks And best yet, after the meal, the renowned chef Daniel Boulud was seen walking out of the kitchen and talking to diners and greeting people. In a world where celebrity chefs are constantly out to make money, opening up branches, and spending time on television, it is good to see that there are still honest chefs in the world and in New York City. read more

I have a strong faith in the Michelin guide. In general if a restaurant has 2 or 3 stars from this guide, I know exactly what to expect in terms of quality of food, service, etc.. So much do I have faith in this guide, that I would be prepared to spend the small fortune that this restaurant costs again, just to see if my meal there was perhaps an anomaly. I went to Daniel for the first time two days ago for my 29th birthday. The meal was by no means bad, and parts were really excellent. But given the price point, and the comparison to the other top-tier restaurants I've dined in (Le Bernardin, Jean-Georges, Del Posto, Le Bec Fin, and Schwa come to mind) the overall experience was somewhat disappointing. I was first put off by the pre-fixe iteself. I realize that a 3 course pre-fixe is standard in many places, but I want more from a place like this. Bernardin offers 4 courses, Del Posto and Le Bec Fin 5, Schwa has a standard 11 course tasting. I want to try many smaller things in a place like this, and 3 courses just doesn't cut it for me, especially when one course will be a dessert which I already know I won't care about. That said, you ALWAYS get more than what is advertised at a place like this, so I wasn't too worried. What WAS disappointing was that neither of my courses were all that memorable. I started with the trio of mackerel (I figured if I cant have different dishes, I'd at least get different preparations of the same dish). 2 of the 3 settings were completely unmemorable, only the middle selection, mackerel caviar served on some unidentifiable tower of something proved to be a wonderful bite. My main was quail, stuffed with fois gras. This dish suffered from an actual fault in that it was wrapped in bacon that completely overpowered the quail and fois gras and I wound up deconstruction the dish so the good bits wouldn't be wasted. I ate quail, with a side of fois gras and bacon. Then they served us 1000 desserts. The desserts we ordered were followed by an extra small dessert arranged for my birthday, which was followed by a selection of 6 petit fours, which was followed by a large basket of home made Madelines, which were followed by home made chocolates. Maybe this would float your boat if you are a sweet fiend, but I am not, and found myself quite annoyed that 50-60% of my meal, in terms both of filling me up and time spent eating was dessert. The booze was a more successful affair. We started with a cocktail in the lounge which was probably the single best thing I had in my mouth that night. It was called Bitter for Better or something like that, and if you dig the negroni school of cocktails, this is for you. Go have it at the bar anytime just to try it. We did the wine pairings with the meal and the wines were each excellent, the stand out being a 1999 (tempranillo?) from Rioja. At first the pours seemed very stingy, and I was pretty upset when they poured the second glass of wine and then didn't serve the main course for 15 minutes. By the time it came, my half glass was gone and I was really not looking forward to shelling out an extra chunk of cash for something else by the glass, but the waiter simply came back and refilled my glass. Well when I realized that THAT was how that was going to work....... When I dine at a restaurant like Daniel I expect transcendence. Obviously not every bite of food will do this, but at each of the other restaurants mentioned above, there was some moment, some bite that when it first hit my tongue, gave an overwhelming pleasure, somewhat akin to an orgasm, where awareness of all other things goes out the window and you are completely enveloped by the single sense of taste. My meal at Daniel was great fun, and certainly there was nothing bad about it, but it simply did not live up to that lofty standard. read more

This place is incredible. Food , service and overall Was worth the price . I have been here twice and both times absolutely amazing. Very gorgeous restaurant, outstanding service. Very delicious food I can't say enough about Daniel . Love this place . read more

It's a once in a life (or a while) experience. The food was presented beautifully and tasted even better! Had the seven course tasting menu that included items that were out of my comfort zone: rabbit, cod, fois gras, sweet bread, and none of them disappointed. I added the wine pairing as well and each complimented the food perfectly. Lastly, the ambiance felt like that out of a classic romantic movie. Felt like I was transported to a different era. read more

Simply the best dinner I have ever had. This Daniel guy is truly remarkable with his culinary skills. When my friend and I waited for our table, no one other but Daniel himself came out and wished us a nice dinner! We may or may not have been starstruck. I ate here more than two weeks ago, but I still dream about the pea soup, the bread, and every single bite I took here. Ahhhhh. It's also important to note that it's very evident that Daniel loves peas. Which is a-OK in my book. Mmmm... Daniel's pureed peas. Marry me, Daniel, and become my personal chef? read more

I know, I know. People are going to see this and think, "of course, someone has to be contrary and overly picky just for the sake of being picky", but that's not the case at all! this review is more akin to a parent chastising a top performing child for bringing home a B+; yes, it is a perfectly acceptable grade for many people, but not for someone who should be pulling in A+'s. That's sort of how I felt about Daniel's. When I am visiting the purported 8th best restaurant in the world, holder of 3 Michelin stars, I am expecting to be wowed. When they are charging for a meal for two what some people pay for rent, then I'm going to be a little picky. Was the meal and experience wonderful? Yes. Was it the best meal and experience ever? Nope! For example, the service. It was very formal and practiced, silverware changed after every course, etc. Fine, great. But we had to ask for more bread (twice), more butter, my water glass was empty several times, & at one point, my wine glass was empty for so long, I assumed we had already finished the bottle! Aside from those missteps, the service was excellent, and the pacing of the meal was perfect. It was a very relaxed pace, allowing us to enjoy each course. I started off with a white cosmopolitan, which, like everything else, was presented exquisitely. A martini glass is presented. Inside the glass is a jaw breaker sized ice ball with purple orchids frozen within. The drink is poured from a mini-carafe into the glass. The drink was very light and refreshing and tasted very yuzu-y. It was very good. The amuse bouche was a trio of sweet potato served on a 3 tiered tray- sweet potato puree with a spicy potato stick, sweet potato and smoked salmon, and sweet potato and grilled octopus. They were all delicious, but the salmon one was my favorite. They offer about 5-10 different types of bread. We sampled the cheese and garlic, the salt and butter and the baguette. The breads were delicious, but were surprisingly not warm and oven fresh; they were served room temperature. We chose the 6 course tasting menu and alternated our choices for all of the courses except for the red meat and dessert courses. For the first course, I had a guinea hen and turnips mosaic and also tried my fiancee's duck terrine with honeycrisp apple. Both were served with toasted brioche. They were both beautifully presented and delicious. Next course was a trio of scottish salmon for me: poached and topped with large roe, tartare with a sesame crisp and smoked and topped with watercress- although it looked beautiful, aside from the roe bursting in my mouth, nothing stood out. Fiancee's peekytoe crab salad was good, but had a lot of pineapple in it which overpowered the dish, imo. Onto seared scallops with crispy rice for me, and tomme de l'abondance and morbier ravioli for him. My scallops were good, but slightly undercooked, tbh. The ravioli, on the other hand, was AMAZING. They were creamy, perfectly cooked little pillows of heavenly yum! I was jealous I didn't pick this dish. Next, I got slow baked dover sole and he got grilled yellow fin tuna. The sole was good, tasted almost poached, topped with shrimp, yummy little crispy polenta cubes, and the cutest mini mushrooms I have ever seen! Again, the dish was good, not amazingly great. Same for the tuna. Last savory we both chose the duo of beef: short ribs with stewed lentils and wagyu tenderloin with onions and carrot confit. The short ribs were delicious! Perfectly cooked, great flavor and the lentils were the perfect creamy partner to the short ribs. The wagyu tenderloin was very tender, as expected, but was lacking the amazing flavor of the short ribs. For dessert, we both got the warm guanaja chocolate coulant, which came with caramel, fluer de sel and milk sorbet. The coulant was like a mini lava cake, but was slightly overcooked and a little dry. The accompaniments were perfect, and the sorbet tasted like ice cream to me. It was a decent dessert but nothing very unique. We had ordered coffees with dessert, but they were brought out after the dessert course, during the "extra" desserts. First they brought out a mini dessert for my birthday, it tasted sort of like a spicy, gingerbread type of cake, served with tiny balls of poached fruit, ice cream and sauces. The candle was stuck in a little jelly candy. Then came an assortment of petit fours, about six or seven altogether, followed by madelines (delicious, citrus flavored mini beignet type of pastry) and lastly, 4 mini cubes of homemade chocolate: cinnamon, raspberry (my favorite) and I forget the other 2. Overall, the meal was delicious and beautifully presented. The standouts to me were the ravioli, the short ribs and the madelines. The decor was romantic. But I could find a similar meal/experience for half the price. Sorry Daniel, but glad I visited so I could see what the hype was about! Now I know, and knowing is half the battle. read more

I can't even call this a dinner date because it was truly an amazing experience( if you are into food like me)! My husband made reservations for our anniversary and we were not disappointed. The main dining area is stunning and from the minute we entered, the service was excellent. The servers and staff are very attentive, professional and friendly. Every course we had was presented beautifully and of course so delicious. Hands down, the best flavors and food I have ever tasted in my life!! The chilled melon soup and wagyu are definitely a must. Be prepared to spend though...it was almost $400 for the two of us. Highly recommend! Can't wait to back read more

Daniel - French Near Me - New York, New York

I came to Daniel for thanksgiving dinner. I had the turkey. The meal including dessert was mediocre. Waste of money

Came here to celebrate my birthday, was a really delightful, memorable experience. There were three reasons that I couldn't give this 5-stars, although the food was truly a top restaurant experience... I realize that these might seem trivial, but with a bevvy of fine dining places here in Manhattan, it's worth pointing out the differences between them. (1) Arrival/entrance. When we arrived at Daniel, the coat attendant quickly took care of us and then we headed over to the hostess stand. She was on the phone and gave us the "one minute" hand gesture. Then a second hostess arrived and stood there smiling at us, but not taking over for the one on the phone. It ended up being this very awkward experience that felt like we were at any-place, not at Daniel. (2) Table seating, waiting. We were seated, immediatly offered the drink list, and asked our choice for water. We ordered two glasses of champagne, those arrived. And then, we waited. No menu, no small bite, nothing. We proceeded through half our glasses of champagne, boyfriend and I were discussing how neither of us wanted to stand up and ask if we could see a menu. We were hoping our waiter would show up and save the day. Luckily, after we said "one more minute and then we'll ask" our server arrived. The rest of the meal was flawlessly executed by the waitstaff, but we waited just long enough at the start that we thought we were forgotten. Not sure if this had something to do with the awkward start at the hostess stand, but who knows. We were 10 minutes late for our reservation (which I called and told them) nothing that should have messed up their service. (3) End of meal. At the end of the meal at two other 3-Michelin star places and another 1-star place we were given a small gift, a token of appreciation for choosing to dine there. For example, at one place we were given a book (fine restaurants of the world) and two others gave us a small gift from the kitchen "for later" (e.g. - muffins and granola for tomorrow, late-night macaroons). Daniel, like the other fine dining places gave lots of extras during the meal, but after the check was paid, there wasn't a takeaway. This certainly ISN'T a reason to not dine there, but it was just something we both noticed. When you eat at a few top places you spot similarities and when someone doesn't do something, you notice that too. The food was fabulous and the wine pairings were excellently done. If you're concerned that the three-course won't be enough food, don't be. We both got the three course and left full and happy as clams. The dishes were all excellent. Duo of beef is great and the kitchen really shows how well they can execute on their fish dishes (loved the crispy Japanese snapper). Dessert is divine, albeit I got the cheese plate which made me quite happy. The ambiance -- GORGEOUS. And worth noting, I have no idea how they did it but just as we're finishing up the whole room began smelling of woodfire. It was amazing. Here we are, pleasantly full and it goes all 'warm and cozy' on us -- fab! In the end, I'm glad I went. It was a beautiful way to celebrate my birthday. If I had to choose whether to return here or go to another top place in the city, I'd probably head to one of the other places first. read more

I always have conflicted feelings about fine dining. On one hand, my wife and I enjoy great food, whether it's "fine" or "regular". On the other hand, we dread the stuffiness and over-seriousness atmosphere of these establishments even though we enjoy good service. Daniel is such a place. The food is good, but the overall experience felt stuffy. And it's not good stuffy either. I understand that we are in one of NY's nicest restaurants, located in the Upper East Side...but the staff seems to take themselves way too seriously but lacks some of the more refined service levels found in other fine dining restaurants. Perhaps the most uncomfortable experience was how unflexible the Chef seems. My wife and I dined with 2 other couples and we were told that the Chef prefers to have the whole table order the same pre fixe menu. There are three pre fixe menus to choose from (1) 3-course menu, (2) 7-course Bellecour - meat focused and (3) 7-course Mayfair - seafood focused. We took that to mean the Chefs prefers the whole table get the same # of courses for timing purposes. No....they meant the Chef prefers everyone to get the same menu. When we inquired if the Chef could allow each couple order a Bellecour and a Mayfair, our server just went into robot-in-disguise mode and twice repeated the pre-programmed response: "The Chef would prefers the whole table order the same menu." Now, if the kitchen staff is really that good, they can handle a table ordering two different menus. When we protested, the Chef granted us this exception. Thanks... (and for the record, the Bellecour is nothing to write home about...) Don't get me wrong, the food was good and the service was good, despite being a tiny bit pretentious. For the money, we've had better food and service. Namely Alinea and various other fine dining restaurants in Chicago. Chicago seems to have more "casual fine dining" restaurants and it's certainly our preference. read more

Dear Daniel, Can I call you by your first name? I think after Friday's dinner, we've managed to develop a first name relationship. I was thoroughly pleased with your vast variety of vintage wines (not that I ordered a bottle), but I liked perusing through your eclectic wine list. I did however, chose a delicious Riesling to start with as we waited for our table. El novio was quite impressed as he noticed a fairly large ice circle (as opposed to ice cube) in his Macallan. You are the master of detail. The neo-classical detail was impeccable. Not to mention, the bar purse holder was a life saver, and I'm happy that although we were seated at a booth, if we were at a table, my little purse would have a seat of its own. Our starters were fresh and tasty....actually pretty friggin awesome (for lack of a better term). The service was excellent...so kind, so understanding, not at all pretentious. All 6 courses were absolutely divine and if I were to document the highlights, I'm afraid YELPERS will never read this review because it will be epoch long. But at $185 a person, I'm glad it did not disappoint (wink wink). Dessert was decadently chocolaty, and the hochata cream was none like I've ever tasted (that's because I've never tasted Hochata ice cream, until Friday). Thank you for finishing this wonderful moment with a beautiful birthday surprise full of fruit, ice cream, grape fruit galore...(blows out candle) I exalt you, especially after your delivery of freshly baked Madelines...or as el novio called them yummy "Chinatown mooncakes." All of this decadence in my tummy made today's Diva half marathon worthwhile, as I was able to burn every ounce of butter that coated the inside of my happy belly. C'est la vie! Love, Luarnie read more

Service? INSANE. The guy brought out a little stool for my handbag. Thanks for noticing my Theory handbag I got on sale. I bet your stool was more expensive. Food was great but nothing was super memorable...but maybe that's because I drank a lot of wine. Met Daniel when we were leaving the restaurant...very nice man. Varied crowd...didn't feel like I stuck out so much like when I went to Le Bernadin where my boyfriend and I were the youngest people in the room. More fashionable people than other nicer restaurants. It was like looking at a fashion magazine at a restaurant setting. (4 stars because I can't remember what I ate at all but somehow I know what I wore that night) read more

Every year on his birthday, my friend chooses his favorite person and a great restarant to ring in the occasion. For his 32nd year, I was the chosen one and the restaurant was Daniel. We arrived for a 7:30 reservation, had a drink at the bar (which is lovely) and went to our table. As everyone has mentioned, the dining room is amazing. That said, we were given a not-so-great table right by the doors to the kitchen (NOTE: If possible, ask for a table in the inner part of the dining room). I was put off by this. The menu is a little overwhelming and in the end we opted for the 6-course tasting option. Everything was good; only 2 dishes were great: the lobster and the beef (can't remember the cut). The first course was a choice between foie gras done one way and foie gras done another way. My friend does not like foie gras and when he asked for a substitute, his only option was salad (this is lame, no?). Also note, that we had both the lamb and beef dishes and the beef was the definite winner. We ordered wines by the glass since it was only two of us and we weren't sure how much we'd drink. The house white wine is great and cheap at something like $13 a glass. We should have gotten a bottle because most of the dishes were fish and we didn't switch over to red until late in the meal. Desserts were okay. Along with the main dessert they give petits fours and madelines. The madelines were so delicious, warm, light and tasty, we asked for more (Why not?). In the end at $600 for two, I can't give Daniel more that 3 stars. I would have liked it more if we had gotten a better table and if I had been wise enough to know that the three-course option with lobster and beef (don't know if that's actually possible) is all you need to eat and experience what is good at Daniel. A note about wine: the waiter told us that every year Daniel goes to California to taste wines and decides what to serve at his establishment. Don't be scared of the house wines. Next time (if there is a next time), I'll ask for a better table and go for the three-course menu instead of the six. read more

The food wasn't amazing... It was good but far from what I was expecting. The woman that was serving us had an attitude! When you come here and you pay that much money for dinner, the service better be amazing! We asked her what she would recommend and her response was "well everything here is great." In this tone that was so ridiculous rude. It was the best way to NOT answer the question. Of course everything is supposed to be great! But help us out here! As I roll my eyes- I digress from that situation. Since there are many people waiting in you at once, there is no designated server. The other younger guy that was also waiting on us was awesome! He should get a star on his own. Very attentive, nice and conversational. Ambiance is nice, classy and not overly stuffy. A lot of older people... But Of course probably due to the price point. There was nothing memorable about this dinner. I would have been happier somewhere else. The food was good not amazing, the service was in short "ok", if we had that guy the whole time it would have been amazing, the ambiance is nice but not breath taking.... I would rather spend money at perse or masa in comparison to here. read more

Unfortunately, very disappointing especially given the $ amount one pays for such service, experience etc. plus, I am not one who is in any way demanding when it comes to restaurant service etc ..(i worked in the service industry for many years in my 20's , I get it) .. but, there were 4 primary disappointments To put all into context, prior to our evening at Daniels when I initially made the reservation, i specifically highlighted the fact that this was a birthday celebration for my wife and requested a candle with her dessert and wanted a nice table in the center dining room area (down the steps and not on the sides) I called the restaurant again the day prior to reiterate my two requests, - it was confirmed (even going as far as asking for my wife's name re: candle w/dessert) My unfortunate complaints: 1) upon arriving at the rest, we ordered two cocktails from bar/lounge... genuinely 10 min later, no sign of drinks. Our table was now ready, we were escorted to the dining room.... excited for our nice table!!... well, not so fast.....it was amongst the side of the dining room, specifically where I had requested NOT to be (ugh!) .... they quickly changed the table seating to my original ask .... a little disappointed so far, but, ok, I can totally move on from that hick up. .... 2) we are now sat at our new table (happy), but realizing it's approx 15 to 20 minutes after we ordered cocktails - no sign. Waiter introduces himself, asks if we would like to start off with a drink... we nicely explained. - he quickly brought our original order ... but it's now 25 min too late ... ok, ok ok, fine, I can 'somewhat' look past this 2nd hick up. 3) my food was ok, granted, I probably ordered the 'boring' dishes as I'm not hugely adventurous, I had the crab salad as starter. For me, it was fine but for a restaurant such as Daniels, it was not a 'wow' , little flavor. I then had the Lamb, again, not a wow by any means. But regardless, I was fine with the food as it was my wife's experience that concerned me most ... and luckily, the food she ordered was WAY tastier than mine, and she loved it all!! Pheeeww!! .... score one! 4) it was now time for dessert, i had the camera at the ready for the procession of dessert arrival with lit candles, her name decoratively written on the plate Happy B-Day!!! etc etc...I see our waiter coming towards us (what seemed like 15 minutes after our entrees were finished, but, yet again, okay).... I thought, naaahhh, there's no candle, it's obviously for another table as he walked towards us... crap, it's not for another table, he's coming this way and now he is at our table placing the desserts down with no candles, no nice decorative writing .... nothing!!!! "Enjoy your dessert" and off he went! .....my jaw dropped.... I saw the initial look on my wife's face (knowing that I always bring out a candle for her B-day dinners, and this was a special one, her 40th!!!) ....I was MAD as hell!!!! I quickly excused myself and grabbed the manager, explained how utterly disappointed I was ...he walked hurriedly to the kitchen to rectify..... yes, we finally got the candle with the writing but no mention of her name, however, at this point it didn't matte, the moment was ruined...destroyed! I was gutted...bitterly disappointed! How can a restaurant that charges over $250 a plate ($500+ for two) and have such abominable service and not adhere to the most basic of requests!?!? ....the diner around the corner from where I live would've done a far superior job than this Michelin Star, $$$$ Park Ave restaurant ... from the length it took to get out 1st cocktails, to the crap table they initially gave us, to the huge dessert blunder ... and not even as much as a " the cappuccino's are on us" for the complete cock up we made... nothing! ..... I was mad as hell. Never again! Jean-Georges, far superior service and food... to make up for my poor choice of restaurant i will be taking my wife to Jean-Georges next time. read more

Well then. Welllll then. That was something. And I never thought it would happen to me, not in a million years. To find myself inside Daniel's bar and lounge being treated like a princess with my friend, the birthday girl. Frankly we weren't sure how to take it. How we were thanked for handing over a bread plate to load up on more bread, or to be treated with such patience..such grace. Frankly, this would be a great horror/sci-fi concept. Aliens take over the world by working in fine dining establishments. They're so nice, it's almost eerie, filling you up on amuse bouchees and liquor until you are too fat to waddle out. Then they've got you. But back to Daniel. The mood and atmosphere was excellent, despite being the two youngest (and poorest) people there. But it's good to splurge once in your life, no? The meal began with a selection of breads: olive roll for me, raisin bread for her. Then the cocktails: I had the passion ginger which was absolutely fantastic, though my friend was less impressed by her $29 strawberry pearls drink. Creative, yes, and beautiful, sure, but very very strong. Then came the amuse bouches on a three tiered stand. A trio of cauliflower, we were told. Cauliflower was pureed into soup and served with a cracker spoon. It garnished a single bite of shrimp, and it laced a beauitful cube of mackerel. Then came the stuffed conch, and finally the terrine (my friend isn't a foodie and was pretty impressed by the stuff.) And then of course came the food we actually ordered - I was already on the brink of fullness. My friend ordered the luscious beaufort ravioli with speck, brussels sprouts, green peppercorn, and black trumpet mushrooms. Delicious, and very very rich. I decided to go nuts and order a seasonal special: watercress veloute (rich and thick) with a frog's leg souffle. It was my first time ever eating the haunches of the popular amphibian, and it lived up to my expectations as an addictively tender and slightly chewy cousin of chicken. And paired with the souffle, it was a heavenly texture combination. Already my friend and I had to go to the bathroom, and bad. So we left the table together, only to come back and find our dishes were missing. The plates had been taken away to be warmed, and new silver was brought out as well. Little touches like that are something to be savored. Since we came pretty late we decided to only share an entree: duo of black angus beef. We had the steak medium, and it was juicy, my friends. The shortribs literally cut like butter, and the sunchoke puree simply added to the velvety richness. Red wine sauce was the thickness of fabulously deep red blood (and tasty too) while the hazelnut potato croquette was fluffy and tasted exactly like it should have. Then came dessert. Oh dessert. Of course it was impossible to decide on what we wanted. So the waiter, being the extremely nice gentlman he is, suggested a surprise selection. Hell, we'll take it. We were presented with a gorgeous birthday plate adorned with a candle. This I believe was the star anise roasted pear, served with pecan ice cream and gingerbread. Great, but our favorite was a toss up between the warm chocolate coulant with liquid caramel, fleur del sel, and milk sorbet; and the hazelnut mousse with gianduja, milk chocolate, and caramel ice cream. Elegant, devestating to the waistline, but totally worth it. We also thoroughly enjoyed the huckleberry and orange vacherin, and an intriguing pineapple dessert that I can't seem to find on the menu. To top of the sweets overload, we were given warm madeleines and a plate of petit fours: all flavorful and delicately perfect. Along with dessert we each had a glass of Tokaji as well as a cup of mint tea. I was sold, and suffering from food coma. Again, totally worth it. Would I go here again? When I'm rich and famous, but for right now I'll just savor the memories. read more

Michelin 2 star? The service here is very good with staff falling all over each other to pour your water but our waiter had really bad breath which put a damper on things. The food was very visually pleasing but the flavors were rather dull and the hamachi was a bit stale. Very over rated in my opinion. read more

Daniel stands out as my absolute favorite place Michelin rated place. It's been a bit since I've last checked it out. I greatly enjoyed everything from the amuse bouche forward. The service is insanely good. They are there, and yet they are not.. It's so romantic and formal. Make sure you wear a jacket if you're a guy. They do have some on lend, though, that has to be weird. The guy I was with forgot and the sizing wasn't ideal for him. You could definitely do a business meeting here, but I somehow feel it's better for special occasion or dating. It's a bit too upscale. I suppose if you were in a slightly older set than I, say like late 50's and up, then this is great for a high powered meeting. Otherwise, some of the booths would be a bit awkward for business. I would probably indicate you don't want one of those if you are going for business. read more

Fantastic service. This is old-world fine dining French food with a twist. The food is really fantastic and some dishes are to die for (i.e., foie gras). Most everything here is way above average and you won't be disappointed with any plate. The service is better than 99 percent of other restaurants, with multiple servers for each table who seem to watch over you carefully - basically providing top-tier service like you'd want from any fine dining experience. They also put on a show with some of the drinks and dishes, so that adds to the charm (e.g., Pirate's Booty, lamb tasting, foie gras, etc.). Even the breads are made fresh and served warm, and when they keep coming by with the bread plate it's quite tempting! The deserts were all so good it's hard to say which I'd recommend. We sampled several. The atmosphere is also old-world dining, quiet and elegant. Overall, there is little to complain about here. Friends note that the food may not be quite as good as it used to be in the past and every dish didn't "wow" us, but it is all quality and care that you can see and taste. The experience of dining here is wonderful with the service they provide makes you feel satisfied after paying the hefty bill. The bar in front is said to offer the same menu and offerings without the dress code, but I suspect that the service and experience just wouldn't be the same (whereas the bill would be!). In total, this is a great place to celebrate a special occasion, go out with friends, etc. read more

I don't know much about fine French food. And I'm pretty sure that I can't afford to go to places like Daniel on a regular basis. However, when it's time for a special occasion, you should try to come here. Every single aspect of the experience was great. The food, the service, the cocktails, the wine, the ambiance... Simply amazing. The six-course tasting menu was a work of art. My favorites included the wagyu, the bass, the foie gras, and the lamb. I'm having a hard time thinking about it right now, because the flavors were so distinct and well-balanced, picking favorites is not easy. I don't know a lot about wine, but I know that the pairings were amazing. Each selection was delicious in its own way. There's not much more I can say that hasn't been said about Daniel. It is simply magnificent. read more

Fantastic little braised short ribs in this joint. While the music piping in the dining room, much like the braising of said ribs and flavors of such from the chef thinks it moves like it should be considered dangerous or... out....there. New York has gone tame. Like its French cuisine. The artichoke soup showed some boldness. Some. That's it. The wait staff needs to act less and serve more. read more

We had reservations in the lounge, which is a more casual option than using the formal dining room. Jackets are not required for men. However the quality of the food and service is just as excellent as in the main room. The lounge is cozy and pretty. Table was too small for a party if four, especially considering all of the plates and cutlery needed for the cavalcade of amuse bouches. The food was excellent from start to finish, and they are extremely gracious in accommodating special dietary needs. Service is attentive , expert, formal and a tiny but fussy (in other words French). Astonishing wine list. We were pleasantly surprised to see Daniel himself greeting a patron and it's good to see he puts in time there. read more

Hands down, the best meal I've ever had. This place has it all. It really is a special occasion place. I envy anyone who comes here on a regular basis. The level of service is unsurpassed. The staff is extremely aware of everything that is going on, and will cater to your every need, even if you're not expecting it. My purse even had a chair the whole night. That's quality. The selection of breads (and endless supply) was enough to win over a carb fan like me. But that was just the beginning. The amuse-bouche was just beautiful and delicious. A true work of culinary art. I chose the heirloom tomato app, which came in five versions. Loved it. Boyfriend had the lobster ravioli. Delish. For entrees, he had the veal four ways; I had the duck two ways. Then the outpouring of desserts began. Though I went up a pants size the next day, it was worth it. And it will be worth it anytime I go back. Daniel Boulud, you are my hero. read more

We arrived 35 minutes late for our reservation and we arrived there to be sat in the lounge, as apparently they only hold tables for 30 minutes and in the five minutes between, the table was gone. So we sat in the lounge. There were some amuse-bouches before we started on the bread, and both of us got a tasting menu. I normally don't comment on the bread, but Daniel deserves a special mention for their bread, as a waiter comes out with a basket of six different kinds of freshly baked bread, and the focaccia and baguette were outstanding. Listed below are the items we ordered and my comments on them: Duck terrine - very good, smooth, flavorful Shimaaji "Au vin Blanc" - I did not have this, but my dining companion seemed very happy with it Trio of Hamachi - Hamachi done 3 ways, the only way I did not like was the fully cooked square of hamachi Butter poached abalone - please order this, it is very hard to cook abalone to this tenderness, I cannot remember the sides, but I remember being very pleased Swiss chard ravioli - A good ravioli, but if you get the tasting and have to choose between this and the abalone, do NOT choose this Monkfish stuffed with lobster - A good dish, but I did not finish the wild rice - too chewy, not worth the effort Trio of milk fed veal - as good as veal gets Duo of beef - between this and the veal trio, please order this. The veal was good, but this duo of beef was **outstanding**. Dessert: Chocolate coulant Coconut Vacherin Both desserts were not memorable, but if I had to choose again, I would probably pick the chocolate coulant. Overall, service was good, coordinated and attentive. The "giving away" of our table was a bit of a damper, but I felt it was still a good experience. We paid 600$ for two, and we did not have any wine. If you enjoy "safe" and delicious food at a 3* establishment, Daniel is the place for you. I do think Eleven Madison Park is way better than Daniel, so if you are looking for a nice meal in NY, please give EMP a go if you can. Edit: They make a very good mocktail that is a wonderful palate cleanser in between meals. It is called the Oishi Club, and it is indeed very oishi. It comes with a shiso leaf and is simply the best. read more

At long last I got to experience Daniel! I had wanted to dine here for a few years now, and basically everything I could ask for -- fine dining, great wine, nice cocktails, IMPECCABLE service, and sophisticated decor. The food is all clasically prepared and delicious, but I'm sorry to say that little of it was memorable. Oh, it was fine alright - but it was not one of those meals that you remembered. The only thing that really struck me were the freshly baked madeleines served at the very end of the meal. Honestly, some of the food was a bit too over-stylized, and ended up not being that tasty. My chocolate dessert was expertly sculpted, but didn't seem to melt in my mouth. There was some moussey petit four that was actually a bit gross too.... Oh, I hate to say such words when I have such high respect for Mr. Boulud! Speaking of which - I did get to shake his hand when I left that evening, and I loved that he was there in spite of having just opened a new restaurant a few months ago. The ultimate point about Daniel will be the service and decor -- here your purse will never touch the ground (they will give it its own footstool), and you can have complete privacy in some of the tables set off to the side in its own tented area. Somehow this is not overly-pretentious to me -- and a big plus - no bathroom attendant (hate those!). read more

Dined here a few months ago and celebrated my anniversary here. I have to say I was slightly disappointed. I think I went in with exceptionally high expectations, but they were not met. Don't get me wrong, it was still overall a fantastic experience. Service was top notch and the atmosphere is what you would expect. Quiet, beautiful space. Drinks were great, especially the champagne mojito. Food was great, especially the presentation, but I wasn't "wow'ed" by the taste. For the price, I would have expected more. My advice is to spend a little bit more and go to Per Se! For sure you'll be "wow'ed"! read more

Disclaimer: #firstworldproblems When I saw nytime's Pete Wells downgrade Daniel's from 4 stars to 3, then from 3 michelin stars to 2, I wasn't surprised. I felt kind of vindicated actually. What can you do if you've been to so many amazing restaurants and need to measure them against each other? Someone's got to get 4 stars, even the most iconic NYC restaurant, Daniel. My husband and I came here on his birthday in 2012 and the food was out of this world. 5 stars without a doubt. It's the service that I wasn't as impressed as by. We usually ask a ton of questions about the food and how it's prepared. I don't expect the waiters to know everything, so we asked if he could find out from the chef. He said he would, but then he never came back. Also, I had to ask for my water to be refilled. Really? if I'm paying over $100 for a meal, I don't think that should have happened. Luckily we asked another waitress who filled our water and was able to answer our questions. She also checked with the chef to make sure, and also got back to us. However that was just one of many incidents where we felt service was lacking. Hopefully, they'll improve next year. read more

What a lovely dinner. The ambiance is elegant without being oppressively stuffy. The service is attentive without hovering. Someone is always watching, but not in that creepy way. More of a, if you need anything I'm there for you way. My dining partner and I sampled the entire six course tasting menu, each course with two options. Simply put, a slice of culinary heaven. With every course change, WOOOSHHHHH..an army of servers descend to promptly plate or clear. I think the service-to-customer ratio was along the lines of 1:2. Women: nice dress of appropriate length (you'll stand out if you wear something hoochie-short) Men: jacket required, tie optional (though most had ties) Amazing food, amazing service, A's all around. read more

Though I enjoyed the old look and feel, the new design pops. Beautiful surroundings, exceptional and flawless service, expansive wine list, and creatively scrumptious vegetarian tasting menu (six-course). The pairings were spot on. The chilled soup, squash ravioli and brussel sprouts were melt-in-your-mouth favourites. Delicious cheese. Very discreet and respectful of privacy; no gawkers or interruptions. But this is New York, after all... There are enough reviews here without being overly redundant about this must-do experience. read more