Four Seasons Restaurant: A Review

Not to be confused with the hotel, the Four Seasons Restaurant proved to be the highlight of our trip to New York City. It is on East 52^nd Street, just off Park Avenue, in Manhattan.

The Pool Room is its most famous and dramatic room, remarkably outstanding with a cool beauty that is breathtaking, including the large marbel pool of water in the center, the huge window treatments, shimmering chain curtains, and the general ambiance.

Even better is the most outstanding wait staff, all dressed in similar dark suits and ties, and all clearly in their fifties at least. When we first walked in it seemed like something out of a movie. It was early because we were getting dinner before seeing a Broadway show. There seemed to a few dozen of these smartly dressed men in the large, elegant room. There is a spacious feel and a romantic sensation to the room. A number of large trees give the room a unique feel.

Once we got settled in, our three-man service team moved in perfect harmony to provide impeccable service as well as some great conversation. They were attentive without being intrusive. We were sitting in luxury and being made to feel like we deserved every bit of it. We stayed for a long time to enjoy the experience, and we were never rushed.

We came because a friend recommended it. The pre-show fixed price dinner menu at just $65 is probably the best dinner bargain in Manhattan, and the food is five star quality. There were plenty of great choices. I had one of its signature dishes, half a duck, done to perfection. You can check out the menu on the website.

I cannot imagine being in Manhattan again and not going back to the Four Seasons, which has been in business for some 52 years. It is a masterpiece. If you visit Manhattan or certainly if you live in the New York City area, you would be a fool to miss out on dining at the Four Seasons Restaurant. It is definitely not a tourist restaurant, regulars keep coming back over decades.