What’s a Mega-Ritzy Restaurant to Celebrate on My Boss’s Dime?

Welcome to Ask Eater, a column from Eater New York where the site’s editors, reporters, and critics answer specific or baffling restaurant requests from readers and friends. A new question and answer will run every Thursday. Have a question for us? Submit your question in this form.

Hey Eater,

I’m going out with co-workers for a celebration dinner. There will be five of us, and the most senior person is paying. Her only limitation is that she wants the tables to ‘have some space between them.’ I’d like to use this opportunity to go somewhere delicious and cool — no need to go old school fancy. I’m thinking of suggesting the Bar Room at the Modern, but I think it’s too far east/too hard to get to. We will be coming from near Port Authority so the closer to 42nd and 8th, the better. No specific restrictions, but one person does not eat red meat. Boulud Sud was given to me as an example of a place that wasn’t nice/formal enough. Any suggestions?

Fancy Night Out

Dear Fancy,

Sounds like a fabulous outing. And how lucky that your colleagues are letting you choose the spot, too. While The Modern is nice, Gabriel Kreuther Restaurant will be closer to Port Authority . If you don’t mind walking two avenues east, the modern but spacious dining room of Gabriel Kreuther awaits on 42nd, across the street from Bryant Park. It has a Michelin star, and Eater’s chief dining critic Ryan Sutton gave it three stars in 2015, noting the chef’s attention to detail and calling the menu “a study in neo-classical indulgences: caviar, truffles and foie gras — lots of foie gras.” For the tasting menu, grab a table in the dining room; to order a la carte ask for one in the bar area.

Aside from location, luxury, and European formality, the thing that stands out about Gabriel Kreuther is the size of the dining room. The servers could easily don roller skates in order to more playfully attend to each diner; if the carpet got a coating of ice, a skater could perform a triple lutz between rows of tables with ease. Another perk: Kreuther has settled down in the last three years. The service is more streamlined, the food is just as elegant, and reservations are far easier to get. I hope it fits the bill for you and your coworkers!

— Daniela