PER SE

Per Se

The next restaurant I will be covering is Per Se! Per Se is chef Thomas Keller's New American restaurant that offers luxe fixed-price menus and Central Park views. Per Se is located at Columbus Circle, at the cross streets of Central Park West and 59th Street. Per Se earns a $$$$ price rating from Zagat.

The Restaurant Atmosphere

The atmosphere at Per Se is best described as posh. Everything is very luxurious, modern, and stylish. Located on the 10th floor of a Manhattan skyrise, overlooking Central Park, dining at Per Se has a certain allure and exclusivity to it. The entrance to the restaurant is simple while conveying a feeling of luxe. Floor-to-ceiling, shiny blue doors paired with black glass and white stone walls meet guests as they come off the elevator. 

For those unfamiliar with Manhattan, views of Central Park are coveted, breathtaking, and reserved for the affluent. The dining room at Per Se features a wall of floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking Central Park. This sets the tone for the dining atmosphere. White tablecloths and napkins and comfortable seating. The jackets-required surrounds is topped off with absolutely unimpeachable service. 

The Food

Thomas Keller has created a high temple of French–New American cuisine in his Time Warner Center restaurant. A meal at Per Se is truly an event, given the fabulous tasting menu. The tasting menu features a variety of seafood, meats, and other in extremely innovative and delicious presentations. Keller and his team do an amazing job of meshing French and American cuisine beautifully. 

Personal favorites include the salmon tartare and crème fraîche fitted into an ice cream cone; the “oysters and pearls,” a savory tapioca pudding under caviar and warm oysters; the cinnamon-sugared doughnut holes with a froth-capped cup of cappuccino; and the lobster poached in butter.

Summary

Although the $325 fixed-price dinner menu may seem extraordinarily high, the consensus among food critics and inexperienced guests alike is that the price is justified. The atmosphere and the meal are unmatched. That being said, Per Se is not somewhere guests choose on a whim. A meal here is best saved for special occasions - romantic, family, or business.