Editor Notes: A Birthday Tradition Chasing Michelin Stars in New York (The Hits, The Misses & The Bland Bites)

NYC Michelin Restaurant Daniel Lobby (source: https://www.partyslate.com/)

The last couple of years on my birthday, I have chosen a MICHELIN-starred restaurant in New York. It’s now my ritual: slip into something chic, toast the occasion, and hope for a meal that feels as magical as it is memorable.

Two birthdays in, I’ve ticked off Daniel and Gabriel Kreuther. Both had impeccable service, stunning rooms… and food that was beautiful but surprisingly underwhelming.

Daniel (1★)

• Price snapshot: Four-course prix-fixe: $188 pp | Five-course: $234 pp | Nine-course tasting: $334 pp

• Some of the Dishes served:

  • Japanese Hiramasa “escabeche-style” with green tomato beignet

  • Spanish Prawn “Carabineros” with zucchini palets, iceplant tempura, and matelote sauce

  • Roast Duck Breast with seasonal accompaniments

  • Amuse-Bouche Soup (complimentary starter)

    
    

My take: Gorgeous presentation, flawless service, but flavor that didn’t quite hit any high notes. As a matter of fact my favorite dish of the whole meal was a soup that was a part of the amuse-bouche. The Hiramasa was muted, almost restrained to the point of disappearing on the palate. Perhaps the most disappointing of all was the supposed star of the show was the duck. It’s served cold and for some reason it created an awful sensory experience for me.

At these prices, I left admiring the craft more than enjoying the meal.

Gabriel Kreuther (2★)

• Price snapshot: 3-course: $190 pp | 4-course: $220 pp | Chef’s Tasting: $295 pp

• Dishes served:

  • Signature sturgeon and sauerkraut tart with caviar mousseline smoked in applewood

  • Langoustine tartare with flying fish roe and cauliflower-macadamia puree

  • Foie gras terrine with truffled praline and cider-poached quince

    
    

My take: Again, the room was stately, the service attentive, but the food over-engineered. The famed tart was technically brilliant but oddly flat. The langoustine tartare was beautiful yet strangely hollow.

For nearly $300, I wanted more than admiration; I wanted emotion.

What I’m Still Chasing

These restaurants were not bad. They just were not worth the high-price point, in my opinion. I want personality. I want food with less ceremony, more genuine flavor.

I’m not collecting stars, I’m collecting memories, and the best ones should live on in conversation long after the check is paid.

My Bucket List (and the Hopes)

Restaurant	Stars	Expectation
Jungsik	3★	Korean precision with soul
Le Bernardin	3★	Seafood mastery that’s alive, not stiff
Per Se	3★	Ceremony balanced by surprise
Atomix	2★	Intellect paired with comfort
SAGA	2★	Skyline drama with substance

My Rubric Going Forward

• Joy per dollar – Was there a bite I’ll dream about?

  
  

• Hospitality – Attentive and human, not robotic.

  
  

• Room energy – Opulent without being suffocating.

  
  

Final Word

These birthday dinners remind me: luxury dining isn’t about perfection, it’s about connection. Daniel and Gabriel Kreuther dazzled but didn’t delight.

The list ahead is long, and I remain hopeful for that elusive evening where everything clicks. Until then, I’ll keep booking, tasting, and reporting back.