NYC: Asiate, a Restaurant with a Spectacular View
“The city seen for the first time, in its first wild promise of all the mystery and beauty in the world.” – F. Scott Fitzgerald
In April, my friend, Leann, sent me an article, 35 Most Amazing Restaurants With A View. I love to travel, and every single place on the list looked absolutely amazing. Of course, I had to share the article.
When I sent it to my friend, Brenda, she pointed out I could eat at two of the places in May. I told her my friends and I had reservations at El Farallon in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, but I wasn’t sure if I’d have someone to dine with me in New York. Her response was, “Go anyways, and blog about it.” The challenge was on…
I went online and booked a tentative reservation for two at Asiate in the Mandarin Oriental through OpenTable. I was hopeful I would find someone who could come out and play with me on a “school night.” I still had a month to figure it out.
A few days before I was scheduled to leave, I got a call from Asiate asking me to confirm my reservation. I changed the reservation to one. The woman asked if I would be celebrating a special occasion, and I snapped, “No. I am eating alone. I will be in New York for business.” I felt bad, so I toned down my voice for the rest of the conversation. She was being nice and doing her job. It was not her fault I had never eaten alone before (except for airport bars), and of course, I had to choose a really upscale restaurant to experience a solo dinner. I still had a few days to find a friend to join me, cancel the reservation, or put on my big girl pants and enjoy the experience. At this point, I had no idea what I would do, but I decided to keep an open mind. After all, anything can happen in the big, bad city…
The night before my reservation at Asiate, I ventured out and had my first meal alone. You can read more about my experience 
here. The day of my reservation, I texted back and forth with my friend, Liz, to see if we would be able to meet up that night. I told her I had a reservation at Asiate, but I could cancel if she wanted to meet me for dinner. She responded, “Is that the restaurant with the amazing view you posted on Facebook? If so, go, and I’ll meet you afterwards for a drink. I can’t get to the city by 8:00 p.m.”
I finished my Google Analytics training, walked back to my hotel, rested for a bit, hit the shower, and dressed for a night out on the town. Black dress, red lips, red shoes, red purse, red shall, hair pulled back, Egyptian eyes, lotion, perfume, and black lace. I looked great, so I felt great. I believe what you wear, including what is hidden to others, can impact your mood. So, when faced with challenges, dress to impress – starting with impressing yourself. You know everything you put on your body, so make it count. I was ready to go.
I walked through the city, stopping to observe and take pictures along the way. I passed by a bar from my youth, Whiskey Park. A feeling of nostalgia engulfed me as pleasant memories danced in my mind. I continued until I reached my destination.
I arrived. I was led to my table and offered a newspaper. I declined. After all, I came all this way to enjoy the view. And what a view it was. New York City glistened before my eyes — captivating and beautiful. Lucky for me, I sat right across from the wi
ndow. I could not have asked for a more perfect spot.
I ordered one of Asiate’s specialty cocktails, a Bella Pesca. It consisted of champagne, Elderflower liqueur, grapefruit and lychee juices, and a splash of Chambord. It was oral heaven.
I checked out the crowd around me. I guessed quite a few folks were celebrating something special as I saw cakes delivered to several tables. Now I understood why the reservation lady asked if I was celebrating something special even though I was dining alone. It’s that kind of place.
There were power women feasting on the tasting menu sitting next to me, lots of groups, and of course, lots of couples and dates. And then there was me, alone, enjoying the view, my thoughts and my own company. I took a few pictures, but tried not to make too much of a scene. I did not want to draw any unnecessary attention to myself. I just wanted to enjoy my meal and the view. Whatever apprehensions I had were gone after popping my cherry the night before. Everything was perfect.
As I looked over the menu, the waiter brought me bread and butter, along with cheese and herb pastry puffs. There were two dinner options — the three course prix fixe menu for $95 or the tasting menu for $150. I ordered from the three course menu and chose the ocean, followed by the branzino.
As I waited for my meal, my waiter brought over a molecular gastronomy, pickled strawberry. I had never eaten anything like it before, and I had to ask what it was several times. The experience? A burst of flavor popping in my mouth… quite a delicious delight.
Next up, came my ocean appetizer. The presentation was beautiful, and the flavors were amazing. I was definitely enjoying my food and experience… I could not wait for my main course.
Out came my branzino, otherwise known as sea bass — one of my favorite fish. It was accompanied by potatoes and langoustine, a “European lobster.” The langoustine looked like shrimp, but tasted like lobster. Again, I had to ask what it was I was eating, and this does not happen often. I love trying new things, especially tasty ones like the pickled strawberry and langoustine. YUM!
After I finished my meal, I was handed the dessert list. Of course, I chose the chocolate souffle. I dribbled the chocolate sauce on the cake, and the crunch on the ice cream was fantastic. What a perfect ending to a perfect meal.
And how did I enjoy my two-hour dining experience at an amazing restaurant in New York City with an even more amazing view? I loved it. How could I not? The food was fantastic, and the service was superb. It was an experience. And who wouldn’t love being treated like royalty for a few hours? Even though I was alone, the staff was super attentive and referred to me as Ms. Pacelli all night long. My ego was pampered, my taste buds were happy. It was a fantastic evening in the city…
More NYC blogs from this trip:
- NYC: Let the Adventure Begin
- NYC: Inside Park at St. Bart’s
- NYC: Fun Times at Whiskey Park
- NYC: Eataly, an Italian Dream
- NYC: The Sketchy Subway
- NYC: 9/11 Memorial… Never Forget
- NY: Le Jardin Du Roi
Check out my other blogs inspired by “35 Most Amazing Restaurants With A View”:
Pictures:
Tasty Delights:
- Looking for a great restaurant? Check out my recommendations.
- Read my other restaurant blogs.
- Cook my favorite recipes.
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