Aureole

Beautiful setting, tasteful décor, and an overall great place to impress someone. A few fellow coworkers and I came by this place during Restaurant Week. I picked another place and my coworker picked this place: I got 3 votes and he got 4. I’m glad we ended up coming here. The bar area would be a great place for a date with its magnificent chandelier and flattering lighting, but I digress…
FOOD:
–Tuna Tartare: This was generously portioned. The tuna was fresh and the presentation was gorgeous. ⁴⁄₅.
–Short Rib: This was really delicious. A cut (usually a tougher part of the cow) cooked so tender that I did not really need to cut into it. I substituted the barley that came with the preparation for brussel sprouts, which was pretty good as well. 4.5÷5.
–Grilled Pineapple with sorbet: I must say I laughed at someone else’s (negative review) stating that this restaurant comes from the cooking school of keep adding ingredients. A piece of pineapple, a dot of sorbet, and a tiny macaroon? Picking two out of the three and making it stronger would have been a better choice than what feels more like the kitchen sink (no pun intended). I would have personally liked more of the sorbet. ³⁄₅. My coworker’s peanut butter chocolate mousse looked more like a 4 or 5 star item though!
SERVICE: Service was pretty good but could have been more attentive considering they weren’t that swamped at 2PM. However, the coat check was a nice touch.
VERDICT: Beautiful space and pretty good food. Stick to the more traditional standbys (steak, pasta, seafood, etc.) and beware of anything that sounds too try-​hard to be trendy (e.g., pineapple with a hint of sorbet and a sprig of macaroon and a dusting of graham cracker AND …). I’ll come back to try their non-​Restaurant Week offerings.

Came here during Restaurant Week for dinner.
Food was prepared in perfect texture.
I have to mention the tuna tartar, i’m not a tuna eater, but they made so good and tender that i wanted another order, it was that good.
Poached salmon as entrée was very interesting as well, never had salmon cooked this way, very soft and tender. Desert was good as well.
no complaints at all for the meal, servers were very attention for more bread or water/​wine.
It was a quiet and yummy meal.
I would recommend this place, because you can tell the chef team really put their hearts into cooking and preparing the meals.

I was a little disappointed when I went for restaurant week. My friend mentioned last restaurant week that Aureole was one of her best dining experiences, but I unfortunately didn’t have the same experience.
Service and ambiance were great, but the food was average. I ordered the garganelli pasta and it was undercooked and hard to chew. The pasta towards the bottom was better and more al dente. This was unfortunate because the sauce was amazing. The braised short rib was average as well. The sauce wasn’t good and the meat was heavy and displeasing to eat. The risotto was extremely bland. The best part was probably the roasted pineapple. It was pretty sweet but I enjoyed it. My boyfriend ordered the peanut butter crunch and that was amazing too.

Enjoyed the Chef’s tasting menu by executive chef Markus Ware in the dining room of this New American/​Michelin-​star restaurant in Time Square tonight. Very talented chef.
The 7-​course tasting menu was reasonably priced (only $ 50 more than their 3-​course prix-​fixe). A lot of food; You will leave very full.
Recommend eating in the quiet dining room, instead of the more casual Liberty room (very loud & crowded).
The interior of the dining room is also more elegant and intimate.
Highlight dishes: Seared Hudson Valley foie gras, Alaskan black cod, NY strip steak, venison risotto, and the poached Maine lobster.
The ‘sticky toffee/​chocolate w/​20 year old whiskey ice cream’ dessert was excellent.
Service was excellent. Compliments to our captain. But, I think they are understaffed. The staff looked a bit overwhelmed, having to deal with so many customers.
Highly recommended.
: A

Another business trip to NYC another amazing dinner.
I happen to be alone on this night. Getting a table for one, without a reservation was no problem, in fact the table was likely one of the best in the house. Great view of the entire space as well as out the window.
Started with a Manhattan, what can I say when in Manhattan… Great drink, to my liking, made with the finest of bourbons.
Started with the Kabocha Squash Soup (butternut squash, shellfish tortellini). So good! Followed by the Alaskan Black Cod, surved with Bok Choy, Baby Turnip, Pickled Pearl Onion, Yuzu Dashi Vinaigrette. Ended the meal with the Pear Belle Hélèné, Almond Nougatine, «Nyangbo» Chocolate, Vanilla Gelato. All this was nicely paired with a great glass of Calfornia Chardonnay.
A little on the expensive side but definitely worth it if you happen to be in the area, Bryant Park, especially if you enjoy sitting back and watching all the wonderful New Yorkers doing their thing.

Had a very good meal here during Restaurant Week in Winter 2016, but I wasn’t super wowed. The food was great but nothing too inspired. My tuna tartare and short rib were delicious, but I think dessert was the best part — it was some caffeinated masterpiece that they served us because my friend is allergic to both peanuts and pineapple, which featured in both of the available options. My friend also had their signature passion fruit drink — it reminded me of orange peach mango juice so I enjoyed that. Great service but the atmosphere is a little weird — neon lights from Times Square filter into the restaurant and it’s kind of distracting.

Came here for restaurant week. It was what I would expect a restaurant to be during this hellish week for waiters and cooks alike.
We arrived on time for our reservation and had to wait a few minutes before being seated. This place was packed. Despite that we were accommodated pretty well. The wait staff were excellent and quick to refill our bread and water without us needing to ask. A+ work for such a busy night.
Onto the food. I had looked at the menu and pictures prior to coming here. My main concern was «that doesn’t look like a lot of food…» Let me clear that up for anyone who is thinking the same. The food is enough to make you feel full and satisfied. Not overly stuffed but definitely up there. You shouldn’t be eating until you’re overly stuffed anyway! The portions aren’t small. They are just set on large plates.
The food we received was on a pre-​fixe for restaurant week in itself. We both went for different plates to try each other’s food. For my starter I got the yellowfin tuna tar tare. The sauce on the bottom really brought out the flavor in the dish. I was sad this portion was not as big as I’d hoped. Still satisfied! The main dish was the braised short rib. This thing was so good! The meat fell apart so easily and had so much flavor. I was in heaven.
Lastly dessert. I had mint tea and peanut butter crunch. The peanut butter crunch was plated beautifully. The gelato that it came with complemented the peanut butter bar so well. As for the tea, it was steeped well and refreshing to drink after the sweet dessert. My only problem was the teapot left behind to pour more tea is designed poorly. The handle is metal and rests against the metal pot. So if you want to pour more tea the handle is too hot to hold. I had to use my napkin to pour more tea.
All in all I was completely satisfied for a mini splurge on an excellent 3 course meal. I would definitely come back for an anniversary. Restaurant week made me have a taste for fine dining and now I’m hooked!
Cheers!

Good place for dinner! Came for restaurant week and had a good experience. Their service was good though a little rushed. The hostess brought us the dessert menu instead of the dinner menu but the server was apologetic for it. They also brought us our check as we were still eating our desserts which seemed like they were pushing for us to leave. Our meal was good though. I got the tuna tartar which was ok but nothing spectacular. Their braised short rib was pretty good and the portion was a decent amount which I appreciated from a pricey restaurant. It had nice parts of fat making it flavorful but some parts were too dry. Their peanut crunch dessert was also good. They also had a good deal for wine where $ 38 gives you a nice bottle of wine enough for 6 glasses. (Mind you, a restaurant sized glass of wine). The downside would be the location. It’s so close to Times Square that you still have the unflattering glare of the billboard advertisements, which detracts from the ambiance. For being a one Michelin star, I had higher expectations especially when lined up with the taste of food at comparable michelins. The food while decent, still left something to be desired.

The restaurant week menu was fairly simple.
I had the veal penne pasta for my appetizer and it was better than I had expected. The portion was just right and the flavor a were bold and decadent.
My friend had the tuna tartar and it was underwhelming at best.
For the main course I had the short ribs which were braised to perfection and the fat rendered just right. The meat was dog succulent and intensely flavorful. The portion was more than generous. Overall I was thoroughly satisfied. My friend had the poached salmon which was well seasoned and moist. It was definitely a step up from the tuna tartar.
The desserts had wonderful presentation and tasted delicious, all the different ingredients came together really well to make every spoonful a delightful experience.

Service is always great here!
The food on the other hand is good and very tasty… don’t get me wrong, it’s good… but for a 1 Michelin-​star restaurant I’m expecting something to wow me. I’ve been here twice but nothing has wow’ed me; or it could also mean I’m hard to impress??? Nooooooo, I’m EASY totally EASY when it comes to food! Anything you order here will be good, but for me it just doesn’t strike that one Michelin-​star note. Desert is another story… this must be were the Michelin-​star comes into play! The deserts are creative and AMAZING!!! Could it be I have a sweet tooth?
Location, service and ambiance are awesome! The waiters are always on point and one thing I REALLY, REALLY like is the attention they pay to you if you have a theater show to go to (this is why I give them the 4 stars instead of 3) in the evening! They make sure you are feed well in time for your show. Well done!

This place has 1 Michelin Star.
I went in for Restaurant Week and sat in the back room (aka Liberty Room) with the rest of the peasants.
Service seemed very spotty from the moment I got there, and it took a while just to get a waiter to come by to take my order.
Bread guy was awesome — he comes around every few minutes with 4 – 5 different types in a basket and you get to take a piece. Highly recommend the Focaccia.
He was the one guy I could depend on. Props to you, bread guy.
The RW menu was had a great selection.
The portion sizes were VERY impressive. We’re talking 3 almost FULL size portions for the cost of one main dish off the regular menu.
I got the pasta which had a nice meat sauce. It as a bit over cooked, but still good.
The short rib — also pretty good but again, overcooked.
The pineapple dessert — real delicious and sweet.
The presentation for all the food was real nice.
My biggest gripe with this place was how long it took to get dishes.
I have a feeling there was an issue in the kitchen because I overheard TWO tables complain about how slow the food service was.
I knew what I wanted when I came in an ordered as soon as possible. I timed it, it took me 1 hour and 15 minutes to complete my 3 course RW lunch.
Lets be serious. This is a MICHELIN rated restaurant that couldn’t handle a heavy lunch service during the week without messing the dishes up OR serving them on time.
So for RW week, I can only give it 3 stars overall.

Aureole was definitely one of my favorite lunch experiences for restaurant week. The restaurant is gorgeous, elegant, and a modern design with warm lighting and beautiful glass wine display. Staff was friendly, attentive, and professional, adding to the pleasant dining experience. Although from one course to the next, I felt food did take a while to arrive, but we weren’t rushed and the timing was just right to enjoy, relax, and prepare yourself for the next plate of flavors. From the restaurant week menu:
Appetizer:
Yellow Fin Tuna Tartare (Jicama, Bonito Cream, Cucumber) — the bonito cream was too citrusy in flavor, didn’t really enhance the tuna itself. I liked the texture and freshness of the jicama and cucumber.
Entrée:
Braised Short Rib (Pearl Barley, Horseradish, Watercress) — subtle and delicious sauce over the perfectly cooked and flavorful short rib. I had an excellent cut, but my boyfriend’s was 50% chunk of fat :(Nevertheless, the flavor was so delicious and seeped well into the nice and fluffy barely. This dish is heavy for lunch and the portion size was so huge, we took leftovers back home to gladly eat later.
Dessert (got to taste both):
Vanilla Roasted Pineapple (Coconut Macaron, Mango Lime Sorbet) — after the braised short rib, this one really hit the spot! Unfortunately, this was my boyfriend’s pick so I couldn’t devour the whole thing myself. The mango lime sorbet was heavy on the mango which I really liked. The pineapple was light on the vanilla but so deliciously roasted to be warm and sweet.
Peanut Butter Crunch (Chocolate Mousse, Cream Gelato) — figured you couldn’t go wrong with peanut butter anything but this one wasn’t as satisfying after the short rib because the peanut butter thick and heavy in texture and flavor. I loved how well the crunch worked with the dark creamy and soft chocolate mousse though.
Everything was beautifully plated and the flavors were all creative and different from what I’ve had. I loved the ambiance and enjoyed my dining experience here. Aureole definitely gives a good name to modern American fine dining.

This strikingly beautiful restaurant, located in the heart of Manhattan, is on a mission to create a truly memorable dining experience. Chef Marcus Gleadow-​Ware brings his passion and love to his delightful dishes. With his culinary skills, I could easily end up going to Aureole another time. Or five.
From the moment we entered this romantic restaurant, we felt like we were whisked away. The level of attention we had, was beyond rare and genuine, and that what puts Aureole in the highest echelon.
Everything was handsome from the Yellowfin Tuna Tartare to the New York Strip Steak. And you don’t want to miss the seared Hudson Valley Foie Gras.
More to enjoy, as you choose the wine pairing, your refined palate will be singing.
Back to Five Unilocal

The service was great. We went during lunch on a Thursday and immediately were taken care of.
To start, the bread basket was amazing. The focaccia bread is delicious and we even asked for a second round of it. Great start to the meal
We each happened to order the dorade which was cooked very well. Crispy skin and perfectly flavored.
The waitress came by just enough times to check on us and make sure we enjoyed the meal and didn’t need anything else. She did forget the wine but prob didn’t need that anyway.
We had dessert which was amazing and well worth it. Almost ordered a second round of it!
Lunch wasn’t too crowded and it’s located right in Times Square so if you’re up for it, def stop in.

Came here for the pre-​theater dinner. The pre fixe menu had great options and was really reasonable at $ 55 a person without alcohol for three courses. I opted for the tuna tartare, the steak, and the chocolate fondant. The tuna was fine but nothing too exciting. Other people at the table had the pasta with the roasted cauliflower purée which was delicious. So I would definitely recommend the fettuccine! The steak was perfectly cooked and so delicious. It came with brussels sprouts which were a little spicy for me but the mushrooms were really good. It also had s butternut squash purée which I could have done without. The chocolate cake was too rich for me but the peanut butter ice cream that came with it was out of this world.
This definitely wasn’t the best meal ever but the food is expertly prepared. And the liberty room pre theater menu offers a great deal for some really good food.

Impeccable service, delightful variety and perfectly appropriate menu options. I had the skate fish on a bed of cabbage and greens perfectly cooked on the exterior with meaty interior
The. Tuna tartare was also perfect with a fruity side.

RW dinner in the Liberty room which is diff from the main dining room, you can also catch a more casual meal at the bar!
–complimentary bread basket: that foccacia was the perfect way to start the meal, it didn’t even need butter
–foie gras torchon: served with a side of toast and mandarin orange marmalade, this was not bad, gotta be a foie gras lover
–bucatini pasta: loved the flavor this dish offered, although the pasta wasn’t al dente
–braised short rib: tender short rib with a fatty top balanced by the sweet glaze to the side
–olive oil poached salmon: delicate salmon served with really yummy potatoes!
–warm chocolate ganache with espresso ice cream: the meal was awesome until dessert, kind of a down fall
–carrot cake: nothing special
service was wonderful & quick!
NOTE: MAKE SURE to let em know if it’s your bday, the table next to us got this complimentary beautiful meringue dessert

This review is a bit overdue but here goes!
Came to Aureole for restaurant week and a had a delightful time. The restaurant is gorgeous and the service was very doting.
But the food was underwhelming. For this price point, I expect more. I ordered the sausage entrée and seasonal soup, and my friend ordered the fish special. The fish was perfectly cooked but it could have used a bit more flavor. The sausage was good but nothing to write home about.
Overall, a solid place for a nice dinner but can’t say I’ll be back soon.

Aureole has become one of my favorite places for business lunches/​dinners. I’ve been here 4x in the past month now, and I plan to return in the next week or so with more clients! They serve delicious food with the option to do a very reasonable prix fixe. When I came with a group of 10, we did dinner prix fixe for $ 96/​person before gratuity & tax. For drinks, they have a great selection of wine and I found their use of Chinese bronze (?) teapots to be a nice touch, albeit a bit out of the place since it’s not a Chinese restaurant. Gorgeous space that has light winter decorations that are classy and not overwhelming. I recommend sitting in the front room with the lofty ceilings than the stuffier back room.
Here’s what I loved from lunch
— Yellowfin tuna tartare was very light and easily a table favorite
— Fois gras terrine was rich/​decadent. I probably didn’t need an entrée after this… and I probably could have shared.
— Kabocha squash soup was perfect for on a cold day
— Braised beef was exactly as you’d want it to be: tender with great sauce pairing.
I loved everything from the dinner prix fixe, but the standouts were the salad (apps), free range chicken (Entrée), and hazelnut ice cream cake (dessert). The salad was surprisingly fresh and clean tasting with its citrus tasting, so if you’re trying to be healthy, go for this over the salmon tartare which isn’t that memorable.
Now if only I knew how to pronounce the name of this place…

An incredibly memorable and exquisite dining experience.
The Chef’s 5 course tasting is basically the highlight reel of their menu and it does not disappoint. The chef graciously subbed out the foie gras for anything else on the menu because my companion and I are not foie gras fans, which we very much appreciated! Don’t be afraid to ask for accommodations for dietary restrictions, the staff is more than happy to modify the menu for you.
Everything else on the tasting menu is straight fire. The Alaskan black cod is the stuff of dreams.
And most importantly of all, YOU MUST GET WINE. The sommelier is awesome and the wine pairings are so, so on point.

If you choose a hotel at Times Square or if you are looking for a nice place to eat in the neigbourhood, you should try this restaurant with good food and good wines. A bit expensive, so what, wie are at Times Square!