I'm looking for a list of the better NYC restaurants that have a table
in the kitchen (sometimes called a 'chef's table').  Zagat's does have
'chef's table' as a search category but they only have 6 restaurant's
over a 20 rating listed.  I'm pretty certain there are others.

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Request for Question Clarification by cynthia-ga on 06 Jan 2004 07:23 PST

csny,

have not found a list, seems the chef's tables are somewhat insiders
knowledge.  I have compiled a list of 9 so far.  It would be helpful
if you would list the ones you found at Zagat's so that whoever
compiles, or finds a list doesn't duplicate what you have.

~~Cynthia

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Request for Question Clarification by pafalafa-ga on 06 Jan 2004 08:50 PST

Hello,

I've found a January 2002 article that lists six NYC restaurants with
a chef's table, along with about another dozen restaurants with
high-end "private dining" experiences (though not necessarily in the
kitchen).

Are these the same or different than what you found in Zagat's....? 
If you let us know what you've found already, I can compare it against
the list I am compiling.

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Clarification of Question by csny-ga on 06 Jan 2004 11:18 PST

here are the 8 (i thought it was 6 when I put in my initial question)
listed in zagats:

 ALAIN DUCASSE 27   
  155 W. 58th St. (bet. 6th & 7th Aves.)
New York (212) 265-7300

 LE CIRQUE 2000 25   
  455 Madison Ave. (bet. 50th & 51st Sts.)
New York (212) 303-7788

 Olives 22   
  201 Park Ave. S. (E. 17th St.)
New York (212) 353-8345
 
 One C.P.S. 21   
  1 Central Park S. (5th Ave. & 59th St.)
New York (212) 583-1111
 American (New)

 Park Avenue Cafe 25   
 100 E. 63rd St. (bet. Lexington & Park Aves.)
New York (212) 644-1900
 
 Patroon 21   
 160 E. 46th St. (bet. Lexington & 3rd Aves.)
New York (212) 883-7373
 
 Remi 23   
 145 W. 53rd St. (bet. 6th & 7th Aves.)
New York (212) 581-4242

Smith & Wollensky 22   
 797 Third Ave. (49th St.)
New York (212) 753-1530

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Clarification of Question by csny-ga on 06 Jan 2004 11:21 PST

Also, I'm specifically interested in tables that explicitly expose you
to the kitchen process (ie, in the kitchen) rather than just a
'private' room in which one would be served finished dishes similar to
in the main dining room(s).  Hope that helps.

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Request for Question Clarification by pafalafa-ga on 06 Jan 2004 11:30 PST

Hello,

Thanks for the update.  I've found three additional in-kitchen dining
places (possibly four -- one restaurant has a "chef's table" but it
doesn't explicitly say "in the kitchen"), including one described as
"...perhaps the most elaborate and interactive in-kitchen dining
experience..."

It's not much, but then again, there don't really seem to be too many
of these types of dining opportunities, even in NYC.

Shall I post the few that I have found as an answer to your question
(you may want to wait a day or so to see if any one else can provide a
larger list, before getting back to me).

Happy new year, and happy dining.

pafalafa-ga

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Request for Question Clarification by cynthia-ga on 06 Jan 2004 15:25 PST

Hi again csny,

There is only one duplicate --so I could furnish 8 additional restaurants.  

~~Cynthia

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Clarification of Question by csny-ga on 06 Jan 2004 17:12 PST

to cynthia:

I'll take your 8 additional list.  that seems a fair result for the price.

to pafalafa:

I'm a little unclear on the etiquette here in googleanswerland but why
don't you take a lok at cynthia's list once it's posted and if the
ones you've found are different post them and I'll pay you as well. 
Fair enough?

---

Request for Question Clarification by pafalafa-ga on 06 Jan 2004 17:38 PST

Thanks for the offer.  Cynthia-ga does good work, so I'm sure you're
in good hands.  If I have any she hasn't found, I'll add them as a
comment, gratis.

Cheers,

pafalafa-ga

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Clarification of Question by csny-ga on 07 Jan 2004 08:55 PST

thanks pafalafa.  I guess I'm just waiting for cynthia, perhaps she
lives in india and hasn't gotten up yet?

csny,

This was very fascinating to research, even if the is difficult to find.  

I would recommend asking each restaurant you contact if they know of
other restaurants with chef's tables.  It would be great if you would
post back any new additions you find --to make this list as complete
as possible.  I'll post all I find as well.


1)  

Restaurant Daniel
60 East 65th Street
New York, NY 10021
(212) 288-0033

...by far the most exclusive, read: expensive... chef's table
experience in New York.  Read the linked article to get all the
details of just how exclusive this is:

http://www.findarticles.com/cf_dls/m3190/24_37/103672412/p1/article.jhtml
..."Daniel Boulud and his exclusive chef's table, Restaurant Daniel
itself does everything in its power to keep that amenity a secret.
It's more frequently used as a personal kitchen for Boulud and his
family, who live above the restaurant on East 65th Street at Park
Avenue.

Called the "Sky Box" because the chefs table is actually a
glass-enclosed dining mezzanine that overlooks the main kitchen, the
space is used by outsiders on rare occasions, according to Georgette
Farkas, Boulud's spokeswoman and personal assistant..."


2) 

Le Bernardin
155 W 51st St
New York, NY 10019 
(212) 554-1515

http://www.le-bernardin.com/
..."is the only New York four star restaurant that has maintained its
status of excellence for more than 10 years..."


3)

Jean George
1 Central Park West
New York NY 10023
(212) 299-3900

http://jean-georges.com/
There are several other restaurants owned by Jean George, ask about
chef's tables at those as well...


4)

Rocco?s on 22nd Street
12 East 22nd Street   (22nd and Broadway)
New York, NY 
(212) 353-0500

http://www.newyorkmetro.com/nymetro/food/reviews/restaurant/n_9015/
This is the reasaurant that found fame in the reality TV show: The Restuarant. 


5)

Pico 
349 Greenwich Street  (TriBeCa) - (btwn. Harrison St. & West Broadway)
New York, NY
(212) 343-0700;

http://www.picorestaurant.com/ (although domain is registered, site is down)
..."Chef John Villa (Boathouse Cafe, Judson Grill) has been scouting
Portugal for culinary inspiration, which leads us to speculate that
there might be some caldo verde in TriBeCa's near future.
Architecturally sensitive remodeling will retain the old Bazzini
nut-and-candy factory's landmarked façade and cast-iron pillars while
making way for a chef's table off the kitchen and a private dining
room downstairs..."


6)

Ducasse's Mix
68 West 58th Street
New York, NY
(212) 583-0300

http://www.souvenirsfromtheearth.com/events_ducasse.htm
The Mix is the newest Alain Ducasse restaurant in New York. 


7)

Rocco's 22nd Street
12 East 22nd Street
New York, New York  10010
(212) 353-0500
 
http://www.findarticles.com/cf_dls/m3190/35_34/65077390/p1/article.jhtml
http://www.nbc.com/The_Restaurant/
..."Rocca Mare will be able to accommodate about 150 diners plus
another 18 at the chef's table.  It is located off the newly
refurbished main lobby of the resort's elegant Cloister Inn, is being
designed by acclaimed New York architect David Rockwell. The hotel is
investing about $3 million in the new restaurant space..."


8) 

The Mercer Hotel
147 Mercer Street
New York, NY  10012
(212) 966-6060

Not _exactly_ what you are looking for, but a tantalizing, unique and
old-school experience worthy of the mention...  Be sure to read this
article first:

http://www.iht.com/IHT/FASH/98/sz033198.html
..."With the opening of The Mercer in downtown Manhattan, the SoHo
loft has reached its Zen. The chic serenity of the new small-scale
hotel is drawing a stylish crowd even before the room service is
running and with the eat-in-the-kitchen restaurant still under
construction..."


I hope pafalafa-ga is able to give you more that aren't duplicates...

~~Cynthia


Search terms used at Google:
"chef's table" "new york"
"chef's table" "new york" restaurant
"table in the kitchen" "new york"
"table in the kitchen" "new york" restaurant 
"in the kitchen" dine/dining "new york"
"dine in the kitchen" "New York"

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Clarification of Answer by cynthia-ga on 08 Jan 2004 03:50 PST

Correction of the first line:

...This was very fascinating to research, even if the
...information... is difficult to find...

Gawd, I hate typos, lousy editing, please forgive me.

Hello csny,

As a once and always New Yorker (even though I now live in DC), I envy
you your list of possibilities that Zagat's and cynthia-ga have so
ably provided.  Here are a few more I uncovered in my search.

The January 28, 2002 issue of the NY Law Journal ran an article on how
to best fete a new partner, "Private Dining Rooms Take Many Forms",
with a pretty good list of chef's tables.  I've included below several
on cynthia or your lists if there was a description worth repeating,
and also included some new ones not yet mentioned:


Park Avenue Cafe, the chef table is actually in the center of the kitchen 
Seats eight to 10. 100 East 63rd St., (212) 644-1900


...the "fishbowl" at Alain Ducasse New York. This secluded private
room, with a glass wall looking onto the kitchen, has as its
centerpiece a massive black granite table. Your group will be
surrounded by Alain Ducasse's private collection of books and
antiques, and you can watch the cooks work on their 3,000-pound
Molteni stoves, imported from France. The kitchen, designed by Paul
Valet, is ultra-modern, with incredible technology (magnetic
induction, vacuum-packing, and more), all illuminated by fiber optics.
Seats eight to 10...


...Perhaps the most elaborate and interactive in-kitchen dining
experience is at Lespinasse...your guests are free to roam around and
chat with the cooks. One of the world's most memorable dining
experiences, for up to 20 special guests. Ask for Jean-Philippe. St.
Regis Hotel, 2 East 55th St., (212) 339-6719.



Le Cirque 2000 has a semi-circular banquette in its kitchen that
accommodates just four or five people...Le Cirque, New York Palace
Hotel, 455 Madison Avenue, (212) 303-7788




smaller still is the nearly impossible-to-book "skybox" at Restaurant
Daniel...group of no more than three dine in this private space
Restaurant Daniel, 60 East 65th St., (212) 288-0033.

----------

The New York Post ran a December 1, 2002 article, "PRIVATE PARTIES : A
GUIDE TO NEW YORK'S BEST CLOISTERED DINING ROOMS" that mentions a
"chef's table" but doesn't really descirbe whether it's actually in
the kitche:


Il Buco: 47 Bond St. at the Bowery, (212) 533-1932.

The room in the downstairs wine cellar seats up to 25 people and costs
$2,000 to $3,000, which includes Italian Mediterranean food and wine.
The upstairs chef's table room costs $1,000 to $2,000.

==========

Enjoy!!!