I usually go to New York City right after Thanksgiving every year. So we get to enjoy the Christmas window displays of many stores,including the very famous Bergdorf Goodman store. I usually see shows on or off Broadway, since it’s wintertime, and explore the restaurants around the city.
When it comes to restaurants or dining out, if you have been following me for a while, you know that I never discriminate against ANY types of restaurant at all. Small, big, chain, one of a kind, got Michelin stars or no star, hot new place or one existing for decades, pristine clean until a doctor can perform brain surgery on the dining table or a little questionable restaurant in Chinatown with a dining table so sticky I have to clean it with my own wet napkins, or even a street cart, they all get the same attention from me.
WHERE: The Bar Room at The Modern
Part of the MoMA, Museum of Modern Art, with the entrance separate on 53rd St.
9 West 53rd Street, New York, NY 10019
212.333.1220
WHEN:
The Bar Room
Monday–Thursday, 11:30 a.m.–10:30 p.m.
Friday and Saturday, 11:30 a.m.–11:00 p.m.
Sunday, 11:30 a.m.–9:30 p.m.
The Modern
Lunch: Monday–Friday, 12:00–2:00 p.m.
Dinner: Monday–Thursday, 5:30–10:30 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 5:30–11:30 p.m.
WHO: Executive Chef Gabriel Kreuther
Pastry Chef Marc Aumont
HOW: Call or book it through OpenTable. Please be aware that OpenTable has two separate reservation options, one for each section of the restaurant.
WHAT:
Alsatian Country Soup with Benton’s ham and Nantucket bay scallops
Red Endive and Watercress Salad with ricotta salata, honey crisp apple, and pumpkin-pistachio vinaigrette
Alsatian Buckwheat Späetzle with Yellowfin tuna paillard crudo, roasted foie gras, pine nuts and black pepper gastrique
Pistachio Dacquoise with Caramelia-passion fruit ganache and milk chocolate chantilly (picture is on the top of the page)
I also recommend this drink from the cocktail menu, the GIROVITA: Aperol, Apricot Liqueur, Pimm’s No. 1, Lemon, Cucumber & Mint. It was my favorite drink of the whole trip!
WHY: There are two sections of this restaurant. The dining room, normally called “The Modern”, and the bar room. The dining room is more formal, overlooking the amazingly beautiful courtyard of the museum, with food served in a four-course prix-fix with many choices for each course, or the tasting menu. It’s also open for lunch, with two to three course prix-fix menus as well. The price is reasonable for a one Michelin star restaurant ($155 for tasting menu, $98 for four courses, $55 for the 2 course lunch, $70 for 3 course lunch) in my opinion, but I haven’t eaten in the dining room for so long since I discovered the bar room.
The bar room is the more casual set up, serving small plates. The foods are the same style and by the same executive chef as the dining room, Alsatian French – Modern American, but not exactly the same dishes. Here is the menu. This style suits me more due to the smaller amount of food intake. Most of the time with the multiple courses that I can’t share, the chef lost me at the third course.
By the way, DO NOT miss the dessert. It’s amazing here.