Darlings, The Cuisine Was Exquisite, But The Nouveaux Decor Needs To Return To The Old!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                           How I loved the elegance of New York high end restaurants, when they were brightly lit, and bursting with flowers.  Ah, the end of an era.  Let us hope it returns.

                             This is the area where we actually sat, on my birthday last week, and did have a scrumptious meal.  I had a beef tenderloin that was so tender, with carrots, elegantly cut and presented, and it was accompanied with the most tasteful red wine.  Oh, and before that, I had the creamiest tomato soup for an appetizer.  Desert came when the staff brought me a candlelit chocolate lava cake, with ice cream and whipped cream--it was delicious, and, as The Raving Queen, I was honored by such attention.

                              Now, David had the coconut curry chicken soup, with rice, for an appetizer, which he said was delicious, but very rich and filling.  His main course was pan fried sea bass, in a light broth with vegetables, including fennel.  My desert was compted, but David loved the vanilla ice cream so much--the iciness and texture were exquisite-- so he ordered a whole bowl of it, which we shared, and it was delicious.  Oh, and David had a red wine, like me, called Murdoch.  We both had the same wine.

                                 Yes, girls, I know one is supposed to eat white wine with fish, but David tries to defy social conventions.  Thank God, he has The Raving Queen to back him up.  And Gojira as well.

                                  Of all the birthday restaurants over the years, this was our least favorite, because of the aforementioned atmosphere and decor.  The prices were exorbitant--of course, what isn't? these days--but $450 for lunch???????????  Come on!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                    I must say the staff was very nice to us and gave us lovely treatment.  I am aware that ANNA frequents this place, but as a downtown girl, I don't think she gets here too often.

                                     Oh, an added footnote.  To use a bathroom, you have to go into the hotel lobby, and up a flight of stairs.  The floor design looks as though done by Cecil Beaton, and the stair railing was straight out of "All About Eve," girls.  I could picture Fred and Ginger dancing cheek to cheek on the floor!

                                      But the bathroom--oh, my God!  It was sparkling and clean the first time I went, but the second, before we left, I was almost stopped, had to wait a few minutes, and then told to come in now that everything was clean and fresh smelling.  It seems someone--patron or not--had--I hesitate to mention this, girls!!!!--defecated on the bathroom floor!!!!!!!!!!!!   Can you imagine????????????

                                        So, due to this, I don't think we will be returning to this establishment.

                                         Jean Georges did his best, and in spite of it all, it was a lovely birthday!!!!!!!!!!!!!!