Per Se (restaurant)
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Restaurant |
| Founded | February 2004 |
| Founder | Thomas Keller |
| Headquarters | New York City , United States |
Key people | Thomas Keller (owner), Chad Palagi (Chef de Cuisine) |
| Products | New American and French cuisine |
Per Se is an upscale New American and French dining establishment situated within The Shops at Columbus Circle, occupying the fourth floor of the Deutsche Bank Center at 10 Columbus Circle in Manhattan, New York City. The restaurant is under the ownership of chef Thomas Keller, with Chad Palagi serving as the Chef de Cuisine. Since the introduction of the New York City Michelin Guide in 2006, Per Se has consistently maintained its prestigious three Michelin stars.
Development
Launched by Thomas Keller in February 2004, Per Se complements his portfolio which includes The French Laundry and Ad Hoc in Napa Valley; Bouchon locations in Napa Valley, Las Vegas, and Los Angeles; as well as Bouchon Bakery in Napa Valley. Keller holds the distinction of being the first American-born chef awarded multiple three-star Michelin ratings.
For the restaurant’s design, Keller engaged Adam Tihany, who integrated understated elements reminiscent of The French Laundry and references to Keller’s personal history, notably including a signature blue door inspired by The French Laundry’s entrance.
Per Se presents two nine-course tasting menus priced at $355 each—one exclusively vegetarian—and a five-course option available for $245. These fixed-price menus allow patrons to opt for enhancements that can elevate the total cost to approximately $800. The wine selection boasts around 2,000 different labels.
The venue contains three distinct dining areas: the East Room, featuring salon chairs and lower tables, serves the five-course menu; the Main Dining Room is designated for the nine-course tasting experiences; and the West Room offers private dining accommodations. All spaces provide panoramic views encompassing Columbus Circle, Central Park, Midtown, and the skyline of the Upper East Side.
Ratings and reviews
Upon its debut in 2006, Per Se was awarded three stars ("Exceptional cuisine, worth a special journey") in the inaugural Michelin Guide to New York City and has preserved this accolade every year since.
The restaurant has been honored with the AAA Five Star Award annually since 2013. In 2017, Zagat assigned it a food rating of 4.6 out of 5, placing it among New York City's top 50 dining venues.
Since 2013, Per Se has held the Wine Spectator Grand Award. It also achieved second place on the La Liste Top Ten ranking and was recognized for Outstanding Service by L'Art et Manière in 2016. Additionally, it has received five-star ratings from the Forbes Travel Guide every year beginning in 2005.
In 2011, The New York Times critic Sam Sifton awarded Per Se a four-star review, naming it New York City's finest restaurant at that time. However, its subsequent reviewer Pete Wells reduced its rating to two stars in 2016, expressing that Per Se "struggled and failed" to justify its pricing based on current standards.
See also
- List of New American restaurants
- List of Michelin 3-star restaurants in the United States
- List of Michelin-starred restaurants in New York City
External links
- Articles with short description
- 2004 establishments in New York City
- Columbus Circle
- Fine dining restaurants in Manhattan
- French restaurants in Manhattan
- James Beard Foundation Award for Best New Restaurant
- Michelin-starred European restaurants in Manhattan
- New American restaurants in New York City
- Restaurants established in 2004
- Michelin-starred New American restaurants
- Michelin-starred French restaurants in the United States