Master Chef Daniel Boulud has gone on to open a few select New York Restaurants, all of which are characterized by his trademark culinary style and elegance and the wine lists which read like authoritative texts for oenophiles, but it is his self-titled eatery, Daniel, which owns the honor of being first and most famous. A celebration of the finest seasonal ingredients, Daniel offers a sumptuous feast of food which takes its cue from the best French cuisine. The many chefs who work tirelessly in the vast Boulud-designed kitchen, in their cave of culinary magic, have been selected for their skill with French methods, although the menu reveals more than touch of American inspiration. This melding of the classical with the contemporary in part this comes from a strict ethic of using only the best produce, that which comes straight from the market. In part it is also the natural evolution of a chef who has mastered an art form, for it is only then that one can push the boundaries and achieve even greater heights.

The beautifully conceived interior design is easily taken as a visual metaphor for the delights to come. The high, coffered ceiling and bold neo-classical elements are stylishly offset by contemporary nuances and a clever use of unintrusive lighting. The inclusion of the occasional contrast in color and texture conveys the subtleties of layered depth, the classical interwoven seamlessly with the modern, a ubiquitous theme within the food.

Three-course and six-course Prix Fixe menus are available, both with options of paired wines. The three-course menu is perfect for a pre-theatre treat of the most coveted variety. Special seating times are available for those heading round the corner to Broadway. Those who come for the entire gastronomic experience, those who might be tempted to order a bottle of the 1909 Chateaux Latour from the state-of-the-art cellar, might do better to give their whole evening over to the unfolding enchantments of a full six-course affair.

Of course, you might want nothing less than a specific concoction and have left it far too late to book a table. All is not lost, the exquisitely sumptuous Renaissance-inspired Bar and Lounge adjoin the main dining room. It makes for a lively, cosmopolitan evening to sip a signature cocktail while you wait for your favorite a la carte morsel to arrive.

The Bellecour Room completes the trio of elegant spaces where diners can be transported from the mundane to a place of toothsome wonders. Reserved for special events and corporate functions, it conveys the same spirit of style and elegance. The main dining room is also available for special events, but only on Sundays at lunch time, since this is the only day of the week that this singularly excellent New York Restaurant is closed.

Whether sipping a century-old cognac with familiar faces from the Upper East Side or venturing for the first time into the uncharted territory of meticulously crafted contemporary French cuisine, Daniel is the New York Restaurant to redefine you perceptions of pleasurable food.