BEST CONTEMPORARY ON THE UPPER EAST SIDE
Where The Locals Eat rating
Top 100 Restaurant, New York City
From the restaurant's website:
"After two decades in its landmark turn-of-the-century brownstone off Madison Avenue, Charlie Palmer's flagship Aureole has reopened at the spectacular Bank of America Tower at One Bryant Park. "Aureole is my soul – my first restaurant," says Palmer. "We would only consider a move with a perfect partnership; One Bryant Park offers the ideal environment, and we are literally in on the ground floor. We didn't travel far from Madison Avenue, but our view of 42nd Street's evolving modern landscape sparked an entirely new tempo for us. We built our ideal restaurant space complete with dream kitchen, larger wine storage, and more diverse dining rooms. Combined with our very talented kitchen and dining room staff, this Aureole is designed to last another 20 years." ... New York native Christopher Lee, Food & Wine's "Best New Chef 2006", will continue to serve as Executive Chef. ... Under the kitchen leadership of Chef Lee, the new Aureole will enable diners to experience the restaurant's acclaimed Progressive American cuisine at a variety of prices and dining environments. Lunch (beginning July 6) will be offered a la carte in both the Bar Room and Dining Room with an additional three-course prix fixe menu option in the Dining Room. For dinner, the Bar Room and seasonal terrace seating on Anita's Way offer more casual a la carte menu selections, with dishes including Crispy Soft Shell Crab with Granny Smith Apple and Remoulade or West Coast Halibut with Sweet Yellow Corn, Potato Gnocchi and Basil Pesto. A Bar Snacks menu is available all day featuring items like Pork Belly Pastrami Sliders and Octopus a la Plancha.
An intimate, elegant Dining Room offers more avant garde menu selections with a prix fix three-course dinner menu featuring items like the Diver Sea Scallop Sandwich with Seared Foie Gras to start and Veal Tenderloin and Sweetbreads with Wild Asparagus, Charred Onion, Georgia Peaches and Pickled Ramps as a main course."
– Aureole website
"Aureole is one of the city's most popular and revered restaurants. ... After 13 years as the executive chef at Aureole, Charlie Palmer, the owner, passed the baton. ... The menu is lighter and more international, with hidden pockets of unabashed richness here and there."
—The New York Times
"Your favorite foods prepared with big, easy-to-discern flavors and spices, in comforting combinations."
—New York magazine
"You get culinary grace and gusto at Aureole."
—Crain's New York Business
Reservations suggested. Full bar with extensive, renowned wine list. Serving lunch and dinner daily
How others rate Aureole
Michelin Guide 2009
* (very good)The New York Times
** (very good)
Top Pick
New York magazine
Critics' Pick
Zagat 2009
27 food rating (extraordinary to perfection)