- Cafe Boulud (French) Cafe Boulud is Daniel Boulud’s tribute to the original space (of the same name) in Lyon. This version doesn’t evoke a sense of “town folk charm” like the original does, yet it is quite comfortable and sidewalk seating is available.
- JG Melon (American) One of my go-to sites for restaurant reviews reco'd this place as a top pick in the city. It's ok, but it is no gem. I know there are plenty of people in the UES who swoon over this place, and they will not like this review, but after eating there I was thinking "are you kidding me? This is it?"
- JoJo (French) Jean-Georges has some amazing restaurants, including Nougatine and Perry Street (which is possibly my favorite lunch place in the city). So what’s going on with JoJo? It’s another of his restaurants, and it has received rave reviews in the past. However, I’ve had some pretty underwhelming experiences here.
- Sfoglia (Italian) The interior is perfect. Soft, warm lights, mismatched antique tables and a pistachio-colored marble bar strike a perfect balance between an attitude of “hey, I’m a worldly New York with character” and “I know the value of subtlety.”
