Lori Luo

Review of Thomas Keller, Per Se

Yes, I know - I'm giving the illustrious Per Se fo...

Yes, I know - I'm giving the illustrious Per Se four stars.

No, I'm not insane. I've dined at my fair share of excellent restaurants, given the fact that I'm nearing 60 Michelin-starred restaurants in NYC. And I know I'm not alone in saying this: Per Se has not kept up with the times. Yes, the restaurant has maintained its 3 Michelin stars and its Relais & Chateaux designation. Yes, it is helmed by esteemed Thomas Keller. But it is nowhere near the best.





In hindsight, I can say that the ambiance was spectacular, the service was more than satisfactory, and the food, while good, wasn't great. Given the accolades and praises that Per Se has received over the years, I expected something a little more exciting, innovative, and memorable from our meal, especially given the hefty price tag (of several hundred dollars) that it comes with. Perhaps my expectations going in were too high, but I'm glad nonetheless that I'm able to cross one more place off my list.