As if there weren’t already so many other harbingers of NYC officially re-entering the Golden Age of dining, the new Daniel Boulud steakhouse has arrived. La Tête d’Or has joined Chef Boulud’s empire, and it has all the modern opulent feels that you’d expect from Daniel Boulud. But how does Boulud’s French cuisine fare as a steakhouse? This is the La Tête d’Or first look.

Atmosphere

Right now, La Tête d’Or feels like it’s still in friends and family, and it’s not because things aren’t running like a well-oiled machine. It’s because Daniel himself is in the house, greeting those who are clearly long-time clients at the tables. In some ways, La Tête d’Or may be the pinnacle of Daniel’s life’s work. The other Boulud restaurants I’ve been to recently, like even Café Boulud, seem like it’s a mix of neighborhood people and special-occasion-diners. However, La Tête d’Or seemed like long-time regulars.

As for the space, it’s maybe one of the grandest of Chef Boulud’s restaurants in the city yet. It’s also one of his most contemporary in decor. The high-vaulted ceilings, and feng-shui curvature of the booths, tables and chairs speak impressive. Guests are elegant and dressed to impress, and the space feels special-occasion. Even with a large group, the setup is conducive to conversation.

Food + Beverage

It’s official: Daniel Boulud has a magic touch.  The menu at La Tête d’Or is rich, but somehow isn’t heavy. Don’t get me wrong; they are liberal with the bone marrow and foie gras add-ons. However, the preparation is so fine that you somehow don’t leave needing to unbuckle the belt like other steakhouses. My overall assessment is that this is a top steakhouse experience. I liked everything that came to the table, though not necessarily loved it. However, this comment isn’t meant to take away from the achievement that is La Tête d’Or, because everything is very good. It’s just to up the level set among the foodies that many of you are.

Obviously, the star is the steak on the menu, and dishes are meant to be shared between the table. There’s every imaginable side dish on the menu, but unlike other steakhouses, the portions are not overdone or over-prepared with butter and cream. As I mentioned earlier, all have just a light touch of French preparation. Daniel shines on the sauces; the bordelaise and horseradish were stars. The only exception to the satisfaction of the meal was the popover, which was a little dry, and I would suggest they upgrade the bread basket. Otherwise, the food was very good.

As you would expect, the wine list at La Tête d’Or is impressive. Along with this selection, though, comes an impressive price tag. There weren’t a lot of value wines on the list, and for a bottle less than $200 you had to go to Rioja. The martinis were good, but I wouldn’t say memorable either. The bar bite menu is small, so it would be hard to put La Tête d’Or on my normal rotation. But for food, it does meet the “special occasion” on an expense account threshold for a big evening out.

Service

As you would expect from any Daniel Boulud restaurant, the service was impeccable. From the start, you’re elegantly greeted by the maitre’d team, who get you escorted to the lounge, if you’re early for your reservation. La Tête d’Or is one of the hottest restaurants in town, yet our table was promptly ready for reservation.

A big shout-out to Jesus, who struck the right cord of old-school steakhouse, French sensibility and genuine warmth. I was with a group of girlfriends. I know that with our chit-chat we can be difficult to manage, and to have the waitstaff focus us on something as simple as an order. However, where other places would pull the attitude (that’s you Sistina), everyone at La Tête d’Or was just lovely. Everything came out seamlessly, and exactly as it should. I would go back just to know I would get great service, should the occasion with the right people arise.

Overall: 8.0/10

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FAQs

Q: Where is the Daniel Boulud steakhouse, La Tête d’Or located?

A: The Daniel Boulud steakhouse, La Tête d’Or is located at 318 Park Ave S, New York, NY 10010 on the first floor of the the Credit Suisse offices.

Q: What are the hours of operation of the Daniel Boulud steakhouse, La Tête d’Or?

A: The hours of operation of the Daniel Boulud steakhouse, La Tete d’Or are as follows:

Q: Do you need a reservation at the Daniel Boulud steakhouse, La Tête d’Or?

A: Reservations are highly recommended at the Daniel Boulud steakhouse, La Tête d’Or. You can make them on Resy.