One Friday afternoon my friend and I decided to take a 2 hour lunch and headed to Nougatine at Jean-Georges near Central Park.
Although there is a dress code enforced at Nougatine, during lunch hours you can getaway with wearing jeans, but definitely not sneakers. Most people were elegantly dressed.
The Lunch Prix Fixe menu at Nougatine consists of 1 appetizer, 1 entree, and 1 dessert all for $32, highly generous for a Jean-Georges restaurant if you ask me. 
The portions are excellent and filling, I was crazy full by the time we left and was so ready for a nap. 
LOCATION
1 Central Park West
New York, NY 10023
(upper west side)
MENU: Nougatine Prix Fixe Lunch Menu
COST: $$$
CUISINE: French
RECOMMENDED TO: Couples, Small Groups, Classic Dining.
AMBIENCE: Classy/Upscale/Elegant
REVIEW
For starters, we were served complimentary bread and butter, typical French.
As my appetizer, I started with the Shrimp Salad which consisted of avocado, tomato and a champagne vinegar dressing. The bulk of the flavor was in the dressing which was most certainly made with butter. The shrimp was warmed thru which I loved. You guys, this is the best salad I ever ate in my life, I’m not even sure how to begin replicating the highly intense flavored dressing, just phenomenal. 
My friend went for the Tuna Tartare which sat over a bed of ginger marinade and avocado. This dish was topped off with spicy radish. Although I’m not a fan of raw tuna, the tartare was delicious and my friend thought so too. The texture was smooth and the ginger sauce perfectly complemented the tuna.
For my entree, I went for the salmon, naturally. Slowly Cooked Salmon sitting over creamy mashed potatoes, and topped with spring vegetables and basil vinaigrette. Although I asked for my salmon well done, I believe it was slightly short of being well done. The salmon was tender and tasty, the mashed potatoes were buttery and creamy. Surprisingly, the basil flavor in the vinaigrette was rather remote. The salmon was good, but a little underwhelming in my humble opinion, outstanding presentation though.
My friend went for the Cod with Mixo-Yuze Glaze which came with a side of spinach and maitake mushrooms. The cod was perfectly cooked, but simultaneously quite sweet and quite salty. The mushrooms stood out more than the cod itself. Unfortunately the spinach served little to no purpose since it was extremely dry.
We both indulged in the famous Jean-Georges Warm Chocolate Cake with Vanilla Bean Ice-Cream and I didn’t expect anything less than perfection given that Jean-Georges Vongerichten himself is the inventor of the warm chocolate cake, aka molten chocolate cake.
Just look at the warm chocolate oozing out, and to go with it was vanilla bean ice-cream which complemented the cake perfectly. This dessert was delectable and not too sweet. Scrumptious!
Of course, I ended with a hot cup of coffee and cream. 
VERDICT: 4.5 / 5
This was my very first time dining at a Jean-Georges restaurant and it certainly won’t be my last. The elegance, food, presentation, and service were all impeccable. Aside from brief issues with the entrees, everything at Jean Georges was extraordinary. In just one sitting I ate the best salad and best warm chocolate cake. Of course, I realize most dishes were largely cooked in butter, but it still takes a certain skill to make a dish taste phenomenal.
Now let me tell you about the service. Once we arrived, our server pulled out my chair and waited until I was seated and then moved on to my friend’s chair. Our food was brought out at the same time by different servers. At this time one of the servers explained to us the dish we just ordered. There was minimal talking between the customers and the servers, meaning our servers were all cordial, concise, and then disappeared. No unnecessary small talk and I prefer it that way.
Overall, it was a wonderful lunch experience at Nougatine. Make reservations in advance. Very highly recommended.
| Food: Excellent | exceptional appetizers and dessert, good entrees. |
| Drinks: Excellent | coffee was good. |
| Décor: Excellent | classy/elegant/upscale |
| Service: Outstanding | professional/cordial |
| Value: Excellent | excellent value for lunch prix fixe. |
TELL ME: Have you ever dined at a Jean-Georges restaurant anywhere in the world?
I have never dine at Jean Georges before and now I must. Everything look so tasty!! Especially the dessert. I'm a huge sucker in that department 😀
Yup, you do, Kiran! He has restaurants all over the world. The food was excellent, yes, especially the dessert. 🙂
a place i want to go…thanks for the beautiful shots, i want the Jean-Georges Warm Chocolate Cake with Vanilla Bean Ice-Cream
The cake was amazing, it was such an honor to eat at the inventor's restaurant – Molten Chocolate Cake! Heaven!
Wow everything looks phenomenal…both in terms of taste and presentation! Even though these kinds of restaurants are pricier than your average restaurant, most of the time the service and quality of food fortunately make up for it! My only qualm with this restaurant is difficulty in deciding what to order- both you & your friend's appetizers and entrees sound like perfection!
It was phenomenal. I love eating at places like that lunch time, you definitely get value for your money. I was confused on what to order to, the good thing is I eat only certain fish and chicken, so there are usually 1 or 2 items to order. 🙂
What a fun dining experience! And for all that food $32 isn't bad. I would go back for the dessert alone!
Thanks Parita.. $32 is a steal for a Jean Georges restaurant. So good!
I have never dined at JEan Georges restaurant but I would definitely go for that salad and cake. I agree with you regarding service and no small talk servers.
It's so good Dixya.. the appetizer and dessert alone were like enough to fill me up. I hate when they run thru the specials and make unnecessary small talk.
Looks amazing and I'm also surprised at the price! That is so affordable for three courses. One thing I like about NYC is that everyone is dressed up all the time, whereas SF is a lot more casual (even in fine dining).
It was so affordable lunch time, dinner time is another story.
Yes.. in NYC most people look good and have some fashion sense, but that can also work against you cause it does put pressure on the things you buy. OH well.. still worth it if you ask me. 🙂
Nisha! You HAVE to try the Jean-Georges prix-fixe lunch too! It's even better than Nougatine 🙂
Btw, that salad looks amazing.
OMG.. I just looked at the JG regular lunch menu, it's so confusing. I'll need your help navigating. THe salad was freakin amazing, you should meet me for lunch one Friday. C'mon! It'll be fun!
So this place is really very close to me Nisha! Totally a doable lunch. And if this is the best salad you have ever had? I MUST try it.
When we both get back we'll coordinate a Friday. Can't wait. 🙂
Oooh yay.. I already gave you the date, you pick the time, 12 or 12:30 – hope that works. 2 hours! I can't wait! The salad is freakin amazing, I think you like my taste in food, so you'll like the salad.
Sounds like a great value for the kind of food offered. I miss being midtown – especially jn summer!
Thanks Archana, it was a great value. Love working in Midtown, but I also love Chelsea/West Village.
Everything looks divine! I got my eyes on the Tuna Tartare and salmon. Delicious! 🙂
Thanks Anne… the salmon was above average, my friend is into Tuna Tartare. 🙂
I just moved to NYC and have been so very tempted by all the 3-star restaurants! I've had my eyes set on Eleven Madison Park, but now Jean-Georges is right up there… dangerous. Thanks for this!
Oh wow.. so great. You're so young, it's a great time to move to the city and experience all of it. You'll grow so much. I still have to go to 11 Madison Park, I've heard great things. Welcome!
I've always felt that higher end places like that are better at lunch because you get just as much food for lunch prixe fixe prices! It's awesome. Too bad your salmon wasn't done to the degree you wanted it though!
Joanne, you definitely get value for your money lunch time, so it's better to go to the high end places. Love price fixe.
The food looks divine and I am sure it looks like a treat not just for the eyes but for the palate too.
Thank you.. you eat with your eyes!!!
This sounds SO good – especially that molten cake. YUM!
Thanks Amy, the molten cake was to die for. 🙂
Everything looks divine. You would have so many great places in NY to choose from
Thanks Amelia.. yeah, NYC is a melting pot, definitely lots of restaurants.