As Frank Bruni's reign as The New York Times restaurant critic drew to a close—his last review was published today and successor Sam Sifton is scheduled to take up the post in October—several targets for articles were old favorites like Eleven Madison Park, Savoy, Spice Market, and Union Square Café. Here's a refresher course on some of the most highly rated restaurants in the city and what they each offer, plus three newcomers to keep an eye on:
1. Last Wednesday Eleven Madison Park joined the few eateries with a four-star rating from The New York Times. The modern, ever-bustling restaurant from restaurateur Danny Meyer first opened in 1998 beside Madison Square Park. In addition to main room, Eleven Madison Park has two private dining areas in the balcony. These rooms (one seats 18, the other 32) can be used separately or combined and look out onto the park through 20-foot-tall windows.
2. Just as modern and serving similarly inventive cuisine is Per Se, Thomas Keller's much-lauded place inside the Time Warner Center. Known for its months-long waiting list and enormous kitchen, the restaurant recently started offering an a la carte menu in its front lounge. But for intimate groups, there are still two private rooms, a 10-seat East Room and a 60-seat West Room.
3. Eric Ripert is becoming a familiar face to television audiences, and with good reason: The celebrated French chef runs Le Bernardin, a seafood restaurant that has earned countless raves from critics and consumers alike. Beyond the 130 seats in the dining room is Les Salons Bernardin, a private dining section popular with planners. Secluded and equipped with its own entrance, kitchen, restrooms, and coat check, the 90-seat space can be divided into three smaller areas.
4. Jean-Georges Vongerichten's Spice Market may have fallen in the eyes of Bruni, but the chef and restaurateur's eponymous location Jean Georges is still at the top of many best restaurant lists in town. Inside the Trump International Hotel & Tower, the impressive restaurant serves Vongerichten's creative dishes and has access to a room on the third floor for private groups of 35.
5. Daniel is chef Daniel Boulud's flagship restaurant, and after a revamp by Adam Tihany, the Upper East Side spot charmed Bruni and retained its four-star status. Although the look of Daniel has changed to contemporary from what some called "dated," the structure hasn't. The Bellecour room still seats 90 for private dining.
Newer to the scene are Marea, DBGB Kitchen & Bar, the Standard Grill, Minetta Tavern, and Aldea. GQ critic Alan Richman has already speculated about whether Marea will earn four stars from the Times; the pretty Central Park-adjacent Italian eatery is owned by chef Michael White and restaurateur Chris Cannon, the duo behind Convivio. For groups there are 36 seats upstairs, as well as an eight-seat tasting room.
DBGB, Boulud's sausage and beer-focused place on the Bowery, proves the chef can satisfy downtown and casual customers as well as he can feed the Upper East Side crowd. And there's a 14-seat private room.
The Standard New York's Standard Grill sits beneath the newly opened High Line Park and is already drawing a mob of customers heavy with celebrities. A section called the Garden Room is offered for private groups.
