Daniel — Restaurant in New York

I finally had the chance to dine at Daniel for my birthday and we opted for the 5-course prix fixe menu.

Canapes: Excellent start. There was a uni bite I really enjoyed, though I wish I remembered the rest—it all went by quickly but set the tone nicely.

Maine Sea Scallop Carpaccio: A solid beginning to the courses. The scallop paired beautifully with grapefruit—fresh, light, and delicious.

Warm Seafood Fricassee: This one was interesting. It came with small pieces of snail, octopus, squid, mussels, a SINGLE small pieces of lobster, and scallop. The seafood itself was great, though the sauce threw me off—it had a peanut or nutty flavor that didn’t work for me (personal preference, since I’m not a fan of nutty sauces). The squid was also a little chewy. Funny enough, while I was jotting notes on my phone, the waiter came over almost immediately to check in and even offered to replace the dish. I appreciated the attentiveness but decided to keep it.

Black Cod: Served with caviar and beluga lentils. The texture of the fish was tender and cooked well, though slightly bland.

Pennsylvania Duck: Perfectly cooked—medium and tender—but I wasn’t a fan of the olives embedded in the duck or the pecan sauce, which I felt didn’t complement the dish.

Mekonga (Dessert): A dark chocolate dessert with coconut milk jam. I didn’t get much of the coconut flavor, but overall it was a solid, well balanced dessert.

They also served freshly baked madeleines at the end, which were decent but not particularly memorable. The chocolate piece with gold flakes looked pretty but didn’t taste special, and the mini coffee macaron was a definite miss for me.

At the end of the night, they invited us into the kitchen for a quick look. It was a kind gesture, though there wasn’t much to see—nice touch, but not particularly rewarding… meh…

Overall, I’d give Daniel a strong 4 stars. The service was exceptional—though it did slow down once the restaurant got busy, and we ended up waiting almost 30 minutes for dessert. Still, it was a great experience overall. A few dishes could use small...

Daniel is unequivocally one of my favorite fine dining restaurants in New York City, and every visit to Daniel is an indulgent journey into high-level gastronomy.

I always choose the eight course tasting menu, and my two standout favorites over the years are their New York foie gras and Maine sea scallops, each bite exquisitely crafted. Every course arrives as a work of art, beautifully plated, deeply flavorful, and thoughtfully paced. It is the literal definition of culinary artistry and fine dining.

The experience is elegant from start to finish. The service is polished yet warm, and the dining room is refined with coffered ceilings, sparkling chandeliers, and understated sophistication. Though the pricing is high, with the eight course menu running around $295 to $300 per person, for NYC standards this is absolutely worth it, especially if you are celebrating a special occasion or just want to splurge on truly memorable food.

What saddens me is that Michelin currently rates Daniel at only one star, a puzzling demotion for a restaurant that consistently delivers excellence in execution and creativity. Daniel previously held two Michelin stars, and before that even three, which makes this latest rating feel like an injustice.

Despite Michelin’s concerns about inconsistency, to me Daniel remains a gem, a place where passion for seasonal French cuisine meets meticulous presentation, and where each course showcases top tier ingredients like foie gras and scallops at their peak. Every visit reaffirms why it remains one of the finest and most reliable dining experiences in New York.

In short, it is expensive, but absolutely worth it. If you are looking to celebrate or treat yourself, Daniel never...

While visiting NYC recently, wanted to experience fine dinning that was quintessentially New York. In my research, Daniel came highly recommended

I have had some really amazing fine dinning experiences in my local area of Australia and New Zealand but Daniel is at another stratospheric level of fine dinning. I am so glad that I actually had the opportunity to visit

My first night's experience of the delightful Mushroom Consommé followed by the Wagyu Beef and finished off with the Fig + Cheese Cake dessert was so incredible, I had to come back a second night to try their other delectable offerings

When I asked at the end of the first night if they were able to seat me the following night, the team was amazing and found me a spot

The second night was just as phenomenal with the Scallop Carpaccio, Blue Fin Tuna and Moroccan Chocolate

The service both nights was warm, welcoming and so personable which I so appreciate. The atmosphere was beautifully elegant. The food was at its own divine level of taste, textures and creativity

A big thank you to Daniel, Brian, Peter, Alan, Jorje, Matthew and the greater Daniel team for making me feel so welcome and the whole experience at Daniel - both nights so amazing. I do look forward to being back...