Perry St.

176 Perry Street on West
212/352-1900
about $150 for two, with two drinks, without tip

Whenever I tried to make a reservation at Perry St., my only option was either 6pm or at 11:30. When I met my dining partner at our table in the back, the restaurant looked very empty at six. Perhaps they were reserving the tables just in case Nicole Kidman or Lenny Kravitz, residents of the Richard Meier building that also houses the restaurant, decide to drop by.

Perry St. is Jean-Georges Vongerichten’s eighth restaurant in Manhattan and it shows. The modernist interior welcomes the sunset glow along the Hudson River; it screams New York City. Diners look like the more affluent version of Spice Market’s fans but are a little older than the people in 66, two more of Jean-Georges’ establishments. The food is more “new American” but still focuses on the simplest Asian fares like red snapper sashimi, crab dumplings and roasted cod. Our fig dessert was served on a warm biscuit with ice cream, a delightful offering that was similar to one I had in London’s The Farm. They do not have a lot of wine available by the glass but a few good Belgian and German beers can be ordered from the bar.