snackspot: l’atelier de joël robuchon nyc

This is Robuchon week – that’s Monsieur Joël “chef of the century” Robuchon to you. His first New York restaurant is officially in the unofficial-soft-opening phase right now.  I put down my story on the front page of The New York Sun today, which, thanks to the new and improved free website, you can read here.

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The highlights: They will start taking reservations (212.350.6658) August 15th for the official opening date of September 5th. You can only make a reservation for the first seating, which is 11:30AM for lunch and 6PM for dinner. After that, it’s first-come first-served.

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The breaking news: Chef Robuchon will open another Atelier in London’s West End in September. This will also mark the debut of his brand new concept, La Cuisine (Atelier on the ground floor, La Cuisine on the second). That’s where he turns the Atelier counter-open-kitchen concept inside out –a restaurant with the kitchen along the perimeter and the dining tables in the middle. Very exciting.

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The strategy: Many Gothamites will probably blanch at taking a 6 o’clock table (though that’s exactly what I did when I was in Paris to guarantee I did not get shut out). Snack advises making a reservation at the Fifty Seven Fifty Seven Bar (sure to see a surge in its already brisk business) across the way for your approximate time of arrival. That way you’ll be able to whet your appetite with a nice rosé while you wait. Or just get a room. Preference will always be given to hotel guests.