MICHELIN Guide’s Point Of View

The late, beloved and globally acclaimed chef, Joël Robuchon, returned his L'Atelier to the Big Apple, having traded in a former East Side luxury hotel for this fashionable downtown address. The hip locale is the cherry on top for his fan base, who know just what to expect: excellent cuisine, steep prices and the best pommes purée your palate has ever been privy to. This sleek and sultry space dons an ultra-modern design that features the signature red-and-black color scheme, as well as a pristine open kitchen. Centered around a glossy cherry wood counter, the dining room draws inspiration from those convivial sushi and tapas bars; it also offers an up close and personal view of the cooks in action. As expected, the iconic cuisine is every bit as luxurious as one might imagine. Lavish ingredients like foie gras, truffle and caviar aren't just accents here, but stellar components of many plates. The carte may feel intimidatingly long at times, but the prix-fixe is an easy way to sample sea bass with a fennel broth and sea urchin; or spiced Long Island duck with young turnip and rhubarb confit. The breads are baked by the in-house boulanger, so save room for these gorgeous crumbs.