I was attending a private wine dinner, and my first visit to Daniel. From the coatcheck on, the staff was super nice, and amazingly efficient and professional. The event was a four course dinner with wine pairings from the Northern Rhone hosted by La Tablee, Pressoir Wines and Guigal, so lots of industry, sommeliers galore, and a successful wine and food writer. Daniel joined us for our cheese course, shared some wine and an anecdote or two. The wines were once-in-lifetime kinda stuff, from 1978 to 2016, 12 in all, and kicked it out of the stadium. The food was, as expected, first class, with staples such as seared scallops, tuna, squab breast and venison loin each prepared with innovative touches and delicate au jus. My fav was the foie gras stuffed venison loin that was devoured before I got my camera out. The cheese course was tasty and some lemon Madeleines added a sweet closure. This is food for foodies. The restaurant itself is classy and upscale, and the bar is small - 6 stools, and tables on each side, and it fills quickly at prime time. Bar tables can be reserved. Dress in the restaurant is jacket required (and tie preferred) for men, with the bar providing more leeway in terms of dress (one young lady was in jeans!). Jackets are available at coat check if needed. The evening was amazing and a visit with the family for a treat would be nice too! read more

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Daniel was probably the best meal and service I've ever had at any restaurant, all the staff was extremely nice, friendly & helpful with questions about the menu, We were in a rush to get to a broadway show, so I didn't quite get the full 2-3 hour experience but everything we tasted so amazing! If I get the chance I would definitely come here at least 1 more time for a longer experience with more courses of daniels delicious spectacular food! read more

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This place is super chic and fabulous! I felt like I was in Paris ! My friends and I went for drinks and dessert in the lounge area which was very cozy and comfortable. Service was superb and I can't wait to go back and try dinner !!! read more

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I recently came to Daniel with my fiancé to celebrate his birthday after not having been since it had 3 Michelin stars and in my opinion, nothing has changed. It was wonderful then and it is wonderful now. We opted for the 4 course pre-fix with the enhanced wine pairing. The wine pairings were all excellent, and at times when we finished them early they were refilled. The service was spectacular and attentive. The staff was all personable and wonderful to interact with during the meal. They did a very nice job adapting everything to be gluten free for my fiance, as we wanted to share all of our dishes. We ordered the following: Amuse bouche - bite size cured salmon. Very nice, earthy and not overly strong salmon flavor. Another bite size cracker with a blue cheese filling. I really don't like blue cheese, but this wasn't that strong of a flavor. Cured sea bas and sea scallop rosette. Both were very good, with the scallop my personal favorite - the caviar on top was nice. I didn't taste a lot of fennel in the scallop, which is good because i hate licorice flavor Foie Gras - this was prepared table side, flambeed and delicious with a wonderful strawberry side. If you enjoy foie gras order this, and enjoy the show. Doversole - very light and delicate. the potatoes were well cooked and the butter sauce was excellent. Trio of Veal - the leg was very moist and my favorite bite. There was interesting truffle flavor as well. Unfortunately one piece of the veal was a slight overcooking for my taste to a medium rather than medium rare but it was still nice. The potatoes on this dish were also tasty. Bison - very strong black pepper flavor, but cooked to a nice medium rare. The sauce and the veggies were very good. We opted to add an extra cheese course in the middle. Our server picked excellent cheeses for us from the cart of cheeses, and the sommelier added an extra very tasty wine for us. For dessert, we shared the pampelmouse, which I didn't care for and the chocolate dessert, which was much better. They also brought a fruit plate out with a candle for my fiance's birthday. You also get petite fours at the end along with a custom tailored menu with the wine pairings that you received. Overall, a very nice dining experience and I look forward to returning in the future. read more

Location: In between Madison and Park avenue in the upper east side, Daniel is always a charm in the neighborhood. Decided to support high-end restaurant as they seem to suffer a lot in this covid season, I ordered outdoor dining. JUST TO BE ALERT IF YOU DECIDE TO EAT IN TERRACE, because they only provide 3 course prefix for outdoor dining. I was not awared until I was told so you would like to have 6 course tasting menu, do book indoor dining. Food: As for outdoor dining, they set those little box for ppl to sit but service is largely compromised for sure. I got that, no worries, and i can serve myself just like what i have been doing for the past year. Food is good, white asparagus is delish with a bit touch of their signature sauce. Still hope they can provide more veggie menu options but so far so good. Overall: would give out 4 stars compared to 3-year-ago food quality/taste etc. read more

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Food was tasty. But this is the first time in fine dining I've ever seen two servers almost fight with each other. One server messed up the order and brought something later than he should have. The other server couldn't resist telling him off in front of us at the table. The first server pushed back. It was incredibly awkward and just disappointing for an experience I thought would be top notch. Also they weren't wearing matching uniforms, just gives a sloppy appearance. read more

Wait service, fromager, all excellent. Food nuanced and well-conceived. Very expensive wine list lacking in interesting thought in the $200 to $500 range--to get anything decent you have spend $800. That's just not right. Then, you look around the room and realize this is all about the out-of-towners, and you get it. Good for the economy, but not a repeat for the locals. read more

I don't write review on Yelp but I decide to do my first one for Daniel. Here to celebrate my birthday. By the time while we're trying to get the chef tasting menu, we're been told that we're only able to do 3 courses menu because we're at the lounge table (which me and my friends thought that was dining room because we're sitting inside). To be honest we were quite disappointed, because the tasting menu is what we came for. By the time chef Daniel stoped by our table and say hi, after he knew we made a mistake, he later offered us to have our dessert at the main dining room, he even offered us to try all the desserts on the house!!!!! I even got some madeleines to go (it was soooooo good) I'd been to lots of the Michelin starred restaurants in nyc, but I definitely impressed by the hospitality of Daniel's. Definitely will come back for its chef's tasting menu in the future read more

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I suspect all future fancy restaurants will now be held to a higher standard. More than a meal, it was an experience with perfection in food, service, presentation and ambiance. A memorable celebration of my son and his girlfriend's engagement. Thanks! read more

Came here for a surprise birthday celebration and they were thoroughly surprised! I always heard about Daniels and how its perfect place to come too if you wanna treat yourself nicely and in the company of others it is even better! The place is perfect balance of modern and old classic chic, and they are very prompt once your checked in to accommodate you. From the coat check to the check in process you felt very welcomed. We were very lucky to have a "private" corner so really didn't have to interact with everyone else dining there. I felt super lucky! We got there at 6:30pm and it was completed full around 7pm. The server was super friendly, knowledgeable, and explained everything if we had any question or mind read our complex looks while reviewing the menu. We ended up getting the 7 course tasting menu and the wine pairing (we were feeling like royalty and birthdays are big deal), the sommelier as well was extremely friendly, knowledgeable, and explained everything. All seven dishes were divine including couple of complimentary dishes we had received, and wine was really amazing as well, they of coursed went perfect with each dish we had. My favorite wine definitely was the Honoratus Rioja Crianza "Aurum" Spain 2008 I could literally drink it all day. The birthday boy absolutely loved his birthday dinner, and was still surprised that he had gone. For anyone else if you do not do the tasting with wine menu I would say its roughly around $135 per person which isn't too bad, and with tasting menu then its $250 per person. It is the perfect place for celebrations, and as long you save up a bit for here you can enjoy Daniels too! read more

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Wow! This is my new favorite restaurant and I'm already planning my next trip. I came here for dinner and did the four course tasting menu. To start the meal, we were given a trio of beets cooked three ways. I then had the winter squash veloute for my first course, which was a warm squash soup with super rich duck in it. It was accompanied by a duck wonton. For my next course, I had the dover sole and the chicken for my entree. The chicken came both as grilled chicken breast and en pastilla. For dessert, I chose the Le President, which was also really good. They also gave complimentary chocolate and fresh baked madelines, which was one of the highlights of the meal. Definitely recommend! read more

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Our first visit to Daniel was in 2010. At that time it was probably the best dining experience we had ever experienced with excellent food, exceptional service, and a decor/ambiance that was classic but not stuffy. We returned this past January to celebrate our 15th wedding anniversary. Sadly, our experience was vastly different. The food was honestly forgettable. The service was not great (I should not have to ask multiple times to refill my water glass as an example). And the ambiance was off-putting with garish paintings and carpets that in places were threadbare. Having dined at several Michelin star restaurants over the years I don't understand how Daniel has maintained 2 stars based upon our experience. read more

Our 2021 celebratory dinner takeaway from Boulud Kitchen's Sur Mer menu was one of the more sophisticated and nuanced meals I've had in a very long time. It's hard to even compare this meal with the other similarly perfect meals we've had the good fortune to enjoy in NYC as this city seems to be where highly rated French restaurants have decided to take up residence. Every thought to convenience and packaging of entrees, sauces, and desserts was evident from time of pickup to our delighted unpacking on arriving back in our New Years homebase. To begin with, the warm puff pastry Croute Feuillletee and Bouillon de Canard warmed our palates to the decadence of sliced black truffles and foie gras in savory duck consommé. And let's not forget how healthy root vegetables are! Two spoonfuls into this ridiculous appetizer and we were almost unsure how to best employ the side of black truffle cream as it seemed we had already been overwhelmed by Boulud's truffle celebration. Nonetheless, there was not a trace remaining the next moment I looked :) My entree of Bar au Panais was flawless and oven baked to perfection - I wondered how such a perfectly plump texture could be possible in the oven (steam baking?). In recalling this entree, I loved the delightful nuances of flavor highlighted in my first bite of sea bass with parsnip purée followed by another bite of sea bass with the wasabina shallot-Tellicherry peppercorn red wine sauce. The contrasting but complimentary tastes and textures were so elegant and so sophisticated, but yet still also so approachable. I don't want to spoil the experience by giving away too much detail, but the healthy Camargue wild rice sealed the deal (with France? Or maybe Michelin ... ‍) and I am so happy and full right now. Finally, the Tarte aux Kakis and Noisette brought our New Years meal to completion with bite sized, subtly sweet morsels of persimmon, quince, and almond paste as well as chocolate, hazelnut cream, lavender colored gold foil magic. Happy new year, 2021 - thanks Daniel Boulud Kitchen! read more

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A dining experience I will remember forever - ambiance, tasting menu and presentation, impeccable service, not to mention the best red wine I can remember having.. this was exceptional. Thank you for a wonderful evening! read more

One of the best restaurants in the whole world. The service, the food, the ambience, the other diners --- all make this restaurant Heaven on Earth! read more

11/10/20 was the day I had the most exquisite birthday experience !!! Michelin rated , the meal presentation was amazing I almost didn't want to dive in !! Every last dish was so pretty clean ,vibrant , refreshing and very tasty This is a must have!! read more

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We did COVID era takeout from Daniel and their "Boulud Sur Mer" menu was delicious. The Guinea Hen was really amazing. Crispy skin .. flavorful and mildly gamey, and actually a pretty good size portion. And the "Albufera" sauce it came with was so good I ended up googling it for a while. I really want another hen now. Maybe a couple. I can be that "Guinea Hen Guy" that comes by every day and orders three hens ... breakfast lunch dinner. The Pennsylvania Guinea Hen population would have problems. The Noisette dessert ... also so good. It's this lavender glistening log flecked with gold that is pulsating with flavor. The bergamot gelee tasted more like raspberry, but that didn't change how tasty it was. Definitely would get it again. The persimmon tart was also quite good, though in the taste bud cage match, the noisette got the close win. And let's not forget the duck consommé! Very tasty appetizer, with a cute black truffle slice swimming lazily in the consommé, unaware of it's imminent fate of being eaten. Pro tip: have water handy to pace yourself. Without it I would have inhaled the whole three course meal in a few minutes. read more

Daniel - Guinea Hen. "Pintade aux Choux de Bruxelles", COVID takeout style. - French Near Me - New York, New York

My husband and I went here for my birthday. The ambience is old school classic so jackets are required. We ordered the three course with wine pairing. Each dish was delicious and paired very well with the wines. My favorite meal was the herb crusted veal, which was tender and full of flavor. But the mango dessert really took the prize for the night. The service was immaculate, and really made the meal extra special. My husband and I look forward to coming back. read more

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Loved it!!! It was my first experience at Daniel. The food was great, service was impeccable and everyone was so friendly. I loved the scallops, beef and the strawberry dessert I ordered. I took a bite of all the food that my husband ordered (shrimp appetizer, veal and the rhubarb) and I loved those as well. I was so full at the end! The outdoor booths were also great. It didn't feel like we were eating on the streets. It was such a great first anniversary dinner experience. Thank you so much! Can't wait to be fully vaccinated and return for an indoor dining experience. :-) read more

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We came here to celebrate our anniversary and had an amazing time. The ambiance, service and food were all incredible. We chose the 7 course tasting menu and enjoyed everything! The hamachi and foie gras on our tasting menu were absolutely superb! The attention to detail and infusion of flavor made is just want more! Incredible plays on flavor and textures. The food really tells a story and is gorgeous in its presentation. So grateful and happy to have spent our first anniversary at Daniel. read more

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Daniel Has always been one of my favorite special occasion restaurants in New York with their truffle crusted doversole one of my all time favorite dishes. In the COVID era that have managed to maintain their impeccable standards with outdoor dining. They have the coziest private cabanas which both make you feel super safe abs allow you to stay warm even in January! We got the duck consomme, lobster salad, beef and veal stew. All were excellent! They do some pretty interesting wine pairings as well for example they paired the duck consommé with a Madeira which I never would have guessed in a million years but it worked! This time the staff were nice enough to give us a parting gift for our soon to be born baby! I will continue to come to Daniel for many more years to come! read more

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Overpriced and very proper. Ugh. They think they have a cure for cancer the way they think of themselves. Better off at a great steakhouse. Dont go unless you want to be fleeced. And fleece you they will. We are not in France. America is not formal. Servers were very nice. Ambience is like that of being at a resurrection. Who needs it. So bon appetite and au revoir. Actually not au revoir as wont be returning. So Adios Muchos! The masked rixee. Better off at a great burger place or Italian restaurant. As value for money it is greatly exaggerated so do yourself a favor and eat elsewhere. Regardless still had a nice time because it was an anniversary celebration. But we will never return. Portions so small and tiny it was ridiculous. read more

Came here for my husband's birthday dinner. Very good food and service. We had the seven course prix fixe with the wine pairing. Service was impeccable, and they sent us home with little treats and printed menus of our meal from the night. This is obviously a special occasion restaurant, so it was so fun to see all the celebrations throughout the night as well. Loved the interior and the classic decor. Great spot for a celebration! read more

We came here for a birthday celebration. Had always wanted to return here with my wife and thought her birthday would be a great opportunity. The place is very nice and welcoming once you step inside the revolving doors. A small, casual bar immediately to your right and the coat room on the left. I recall having come here once as a guest in the past without a jacket and being whisked into the coat room to select one to wear for the meal. This time I was properly attired. We were seated promptly for our 630pm reservation at a table in the corner up a couple of steps with a panoramic view of the dining room. The hostess whispered to my wife that she had saved the best table for her as it was her birthday. The dining room is splendidly decorated in neo French style, with beautiful holiday decorations. Our server arrived and explained how it all works. We went with the seven course tasting menu and wine pairing. It is always much better we feel, to have the chef and sommelier select our dishes and wine. No chance for any mismatches. There were servers everywhere and our waiter was always around but not overbearing. We ordered cocktails a Vesper and a White cosmo. They were perfect and my wife's cosmo was served with a golf ball sized ice cube holding a flower. It was now around 7pm and the dining room was almost completely full. We were started off with a couple of interesting complimentary tasting dishes to stimulate our palates. All the food was outstanding. I am not going to go through each course but I have attached a pic of the menu. We were presented with printed menus to remember the evening. Also a couple of pastries in nice boxes. My wife loved her birthday meal. I suggest you prepare yourself and save up if you go. We typically do not dine in places like this but for a special occasion it would be tough to do ANY BETTER. Mark & Nancy read more

Daniel - French Near Me - New York, New York

Super super pretentious place with very mediocre food. After arriving we were seated in the lounge area at 9pm with the opportunity to order a La carte. The two best dishes were the foie gras, finished in front of you as well as the crispy and visually appealing baguette. Other than that, most of the dishes fell flat. The crab and scallops were not fresh, and the lasagna sheets draped over the scallops steamed the caviar on top which then made the caviar tasteless. The steak was cooked medium rare, but was nothing special. The pork loin was bland and very expensive. Dessert was nothing memorable as well. Given the ridiculously pretentious setting and service, I will not be returning or recommending the food to anyone. read more

On the first day of indoor dining returning under the Covid rules, I was excited that the "outdoor only" had not been time wasted. With the indoor ambiance almost returned (the "covid barriers" between most tables, notwithstanding), and the most excellent food and service, we are off to an auspicious re-opening. One small thing I was quietly pleased with: overhearing a few of the servers in this french restaurant speaking with each other... in French. I obviously don't have to worry that they will mispronounce my menu options, or the sommelier's wine selections - a disappointing experience I have unfortunately had at other, less exacting restaurants. For this excellent restaurant, however, I am anticipating returning, and soon. 2020 09 30. M2. read more

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Beautiful restaurant With great design service and ambiance Food was good Drinks were ... not my cup of tea read more

I've been wanting to try Daniel for some time and finally got to go with a gf of mine . I prefer less formal setting hence opted for the bar area to dine . We both enjoyed our food (we had the 4 course ). I had the salmon , Dover, lamb and le president which were all delicious . The salmon was just the perfect size and best eaten with the crackers. My favorite was the dover with the mushroom and rice pilaf . I normally don't like fruits incorporated with meat but with the lamb dish , it was a subtle compliment to the dish. I didn't have much room for dessert and decided to take what I couldn't finish along with the complementary Madeline's. I'm glad I got to go but it'll be some time before I come back to try the 7 course tasting menu unless the restaurant decides to make it more accessible ( less formal , more vibey). Nonetheless , I like the other Daniel restaurants. read more

Disclaimer: Review for visit before Covid. Among the best meals I've ever had. Everything at Daniel is impeccable. We were celebrating a birthday here, and they definitely made sure that we had a memorable experience. The restaurant interior and decor is extravagant. It's a large space, and with the high ceilings and art museum worthy paintings, it is quite the venue. Dining here felt like an extraordinary experience, before you even start dining. I've been to other two and three Michelin star restaurants in New York, but Daniel stands out even among them. The best part was that the service was still friendly and not uptight/rigid. I won't go through each thing on the 4 course menu, but what stood out the most to me was the variety of meats they offered. I had Abalone (sea snail) and Venison (elk/deer) for 2 of my courses, both of which are not that common. The Abalone was a personal favorite for me, the presentation was interesting too as it was surrounded with different kinds sea shells. They gave us a complimentary Cannelle at the end, and my god it was the best Cannelle I've ever had by a mile! Crispy on the outside, soft on the inside - this is as good as a Canelle can be. Our dinner certainly felt special, and they gave us a menu with everything we ate as well as a personalized message to remember the night by. On our way out of the restaurant, we were admiring the painting near the entrance and ran into Daniel Boulud himself! He spoke to us for a bit and even offered to take a picture of us at the end. That really was the cherry on top of the cake. read more

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Although I had a bad first experience when I came here with my guest, something... someone changed my mind otherwise. Upon sending an email to let the team know why i felt this way, the GM "Karim" reached out to me to talk about my experience. His demeanor and and his passion for the hospitality industry truly turns a disgruntled guest into a second change for the restaurant to redeem themselves. We ended up talking a little about shop and he re-invited me and my guest back to any of Daniel's restaurants. WE both understand how this bad experience should not dictate the whether or not we will return. You will see us again. TLDR: Food was actually great, bar service area, not so much. read more

I'm so sad about the decline of Daniel! This was once my favorite restaurant in New York. I went tonight for dinner and oh boy.... it was underwhelming. My sister is vegetarian but we decided to move forward with the prefix menus due to my confidence in the establishment. Surely they'll create 3 courses equal to the value of the $236 p/p (w/wine pairings) price tag! 1st course: 3 pieces of asparagus 2n course: 6 pieces of artichoke and what looked like frozen peas and carrots 3rd course: rhubarb and rice pudding - she sorta like it but it looked terrible. I had frois gras- was average but nothing special, lamb chop / potato & greens, desert was pre-made and obviously frozen pieces of a cake (not fresh). It was appalling! I inquired if Chef Daniel is even there and had they lost there Michelin star! I didn't get a straight answer on either question. I'm giving this 3 stars because the manager only charged me for the wine pairings, $200 (6 small glasses of wine). They listened and adjusted the bill which I appreciate. It's a very sad day for me as this was once a gastronomic explosion of flavors and fine dining cuisine. Sadly, it was on par with wedding reception food. It felt lazy at best read more

Daniel - Lamb chop and her artichokes and asparagus - French Near Me - New York, New York

The cabanas outside are very cute. The night was perfect for outside dining, but we reserved a table for 2 in the dining room. The wait staff were so polite and informative. We had to choose the 7 course prix fixed menu to get the best experience. The cocktails are delicious, I ordered both mocktails. The entire meal was emaculate, from taste to detail. Attractive and beautifully thought out, each dish celebrates harmoniously as the dishes get better and better. The scallop, sea bass, and prime rib were the most memorable. The avocado soup with the soft shell crab was also quite tasty. All in all it was an unforgettable experience. Recommend going all out. You only live once! Thank you again to everyone at Daniel, you made our dinner a night we will not forget. Merci beaucoup! S/O to the staff, yall made the whole experience. Will be back! read more

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This upper east side institution was one of the original New York City culinary renaissance stars. And it feels a bit like a blast from the past. The grand space is sprawling. A team of staff focuses on your every need. They are all extremely friendly and hospitable. Sadly the pace of the meal is a bit slow so at times they are left standing around. I will say 188 for 4 course at a 2 star Michelin Icon is reasonable. And you will leave feeling full. The food feels a bit dated. And the dishes are hit and miss. But that is a matter of taste. The meal started with a trio of leeks (very good). The spot prawn was a bit anemic. And the oyster dish didn't feel balanced (overly bitter) I enjoyed the bass. The lentils were perfectly cooked. But the bay scallops was a miss. The best dish was the perfectly cooked risotto with a hefty portion of black truffle. The mains were both ok but not amazing. The veal was overwhelmed by the cheese sauce. Finally the quail was solid. The deserts were fantastic and the drink menu is a hit. If you love classic Michelin style fare Danial is a must visit. read more

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My husband and I celebrated our 10th wedding anniversary a bit over a week ago. Although we thoroughly enjoyed our meal and service (complimentary tastings, custom celebratory menu, friendly staff, etc.), I don't think our overall experience warrants a 5-star review. The seven-course tasting menu, while well executed, did not "blow me away". Their bread service, however, was absolutely superb! I would suggest adding a few additional non-alcoholic cocktails for those who don't indulge. Service was friendly and attentive. However, we really struggled with understanding a few dishes due to one of the servers' heavy accent. To be so highly rated, we were surprised to see staff literally bump into each other a few times. The final letdown was the lack of ambiance. Softly played music in the background of the main dining room would've been appreciated as the clanging of cutlery isn't that romantic. I would certainly return for a future visit but not for a while as there are quite a few Michelin restaurants on my list to try. read more

Daniel - Menu - French Near Me - New York, New York

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beautiful dinner, everyone was so nice and helpful. enjoyed every single dish that i had but the standouts were the hamachi and the pheasant for the first course, the scallops and the sole for the second, and the lamb entree and the vacherin dessert. the little extra celery tasters and madeleines and other desserts were a nice touch as well read more

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Wow I'm so glad I got to try their indoor dining prix fixe! It is definitely much better than their outside terrace menu. First of all, the decor is beautiful inside and I love the ambiance. Service was very professional, and they explained each dish in perfect detail as expected for a Michelin restaurant. The food was spectacular - every dish was perfectly well balanced and did not feel overly heavy (which can happen at some French spots that just rely on butter)... and everything was very fresh and well executed. I also like that they had unique takes on certain ingredients. For appetizers we had scallop ceviche and rabbit, the scallops were light and refreshing and the rabbit was interesting in a terrine form with carrot sauce. We then got the duck duo and the lamb. The best part of the duck was the duck confit in pastry, I loved the flavor and texture combo. The lamb rack was also cooked just medium rare. Finally the dessert was not overly sweet, with sour fruits to balance - def try the noisette! The religieuse is also good for something light. Then the complimentary madeleines came out, still slightly warm - delicious! The one thing that I was surprised abt was the bread - it was just ok. The chairs also felt plastic, which I was surprised about. Otherwise, fabulous experience! read more

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We enjoyed most every dish on the menu, including the "vichyssoise," the Summer Greens,the black sea bass, veal, and chocolate desserts, particularly the one with the crackers. The quail was not of the same high standard as the other dishes, nor was the rose vacherin or milk chocolate mousse desserts. Service was excellent. The wine list is expensive with the cheaper bottles around $120, and hardly any good bottles at that price point. The setting is pretty and the sound level is low. read more

The last time I was at Daniel it was before covid. There were inconsistencies in the food that bothered me. On this visit, post covid, Daniel was back. Everything was perfect. There were exciting tastes and presentations. The service was prompt, attentive, and knowledgeable. Not being able to complain about anything, let me mention the dinner. The meal started with three small canapés each made from celery. The most amazing was a celery puree drizzled with a spiced sauce that brought heat and danced on the taste buds. The first course was foie gras, locally sourced, perfectly flavored. The second was scallops done in a manner I have never tasted before. They seem to be layered on potatoes and covered with a green sauce. I wish I could be more specific but I don't remember how the menu described the dishes. The combination of flavors and consistencies of each dish was amazing. The main course was a rib eye of pork flavored with a bacon spiced sauce and it was superb. Finally there was a lemon tart desert beyond compare. Go to Daniel! read more

I desperately wanted to love this restaurant and for the most part I did sans the garish artwork which ruined an otherwise classical dining room. Restaurants like this that insist on a proper dress code is a wonderful respite from what I think is the dumbing down of the Fine Dining experience. The good: Staff was excellent, and really made me feel at home even in a Michelin starred restaurant. Honestly it felt like I was in a friends house. My servers were very down to earth and very informative about the menu. This is what you expect from a two star place. Service was punctual and precise. If you are in the main dining room and look towards the back, there is literally an army of suited waitstaff just waiting to refill your water or catch any crumbs or fold your napkin when you go to the restroom. The bad: I really hate to say this but the food lacked the extra knockout punch to take a dish from good to godly. I will detail my menu choices: Appetizer: foie gras terrine with brioche. The terrine lacked the potent fattiness that I've had elsewhere. It was ok but not great. I think it's because they cut it with some fruit as part of the terrine so there isn't as much of actual foie gras. The sauce with it which was a tart berry flavor was really one dimensional. Note: for those reading the reviews, the fresh foie gras is the one that is flambéed, and that is one of the choices from the second course. The brioche was the element that saved this dish. Nice, flaky, and buttery as you would expect. I contrasted this dish in my mind to the mind blowing foie gras terrine I had at Lacroix in philadelphia a decade ago. If I can remember a foie gras dish from a decade ago it must have been exceptional. It was foie gras terrine, pure with sea salt, small bacon cornbread croutons and a tobacco cherry reduction. I'm not saying an equal amount of work did not go into Daniels version of terrine, but it just didn't do it for me. Second course: sea bass with sliced matasuke mushrooms and tempura celery and sauce with thyme and lemon. Perfectly cooked. Texture and temperature spot on. Interesting play on crunchy elements but the sauce was a bit heavy handed. Overall the execution and idea was good but it definitely lacked flavor. Or should I say the flavor was mild and a bit understated and subtle. Main course: the Lehigh Valley duck. This dish came in two preparations. The main preparation was a slice of seared breast placed atop of a wilted radicchio "jam" (that's the best way I can describe it.) It did not work. The duck breast lacked flavor, and the bitterness of the radicchio did not complement it at all. The breast was well cooked however. I wish I had a bit of crispy duck skin to go with it. The second preparation was "en civet" which means a slow braise usually with a rabbit (thanks google). This was a shredded duck leg under a bed of sweet potato puffs which were then broiled to make the top a bit crispy. Sort of like an elevated shepherds pie. This came in a little separate dish, and to me it was sort of like an afterthought as far as cohesiveness of an entree goes. The leg braise was bland and so we're the potatoes. The texture was great but the flavor was lacking. Although very creative, this dish is flawed. Georges Perrier did something similar with a lamb croquette. The shredded lamb inside the pastry was tender, had the right amount of gaminess, and had some crunchy bits where the meat was browned from the braise. It was a knockout addition to the lamb loin and was plated right next to it. The good part 2: The desserts were some of the best over had in a Michelin restaurant. The Madriofolo was excellent. Madirofolo is a bittersweet chocolate sort of like a Valrhona Manjari. Tasted like maybe 62 percent cocoa. Very dense, sweet sour, acidic fading into sweetness at the end. Paired with a tangy tamarind ice cream this was the chocolate dessert to murder for. The next dessert (which the chef sent gratis) was an absolute punch in the face in terms of flavor. It was the rose vacherin. It was a cube of compressed sherbets to put it simply. The bottom layer was rose. It was the most intense rose flavor I ever had. I don't think I've eaten anything quite like it. I cant even describe it properly. The pistachio also was very concentrated and intense. So good. This particular dessert I will remember for a long time and file it away to compare others to. Conclusion: I wish the main dishes had the clarity and razor sharp focus of the desserts. That pastry chef is knocking it out of the park. If the mains can get that focus of flavor, and they get rid of that artwork there is no question this would get a five in my book. The only reason I gave them a four instead of three is the house staff. They are so darn nice and welcoming I have to give them props for the effort. read more

This is our first 2star michelin restaurant we have tried and happy to say it was worth every penny of it. My only gripe is we were seated close to the kitchen. Our server were very knowledgeable and did a great job describing every dishes. We had about 3 different complimentary desserts and they are all excellent as well as some parting gifts. Overall, we were glad to celebrate our anniversary at Daniel read more

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