Meet Goldilocks. She's not too quiet and not too loud. Her food is creative, but not too experimental, or challenging. And though she's in a hotel, at least half her guests (and likely more) are New Yorkers—locals who have been vying for tables, as this restaurant is a difficult reservation to get. Why so popular? Because Simon & The Whale has the comforting ambiance of a fire in an open hearth. The dining room is moodily lit, with lots of woods, handsome tiling, and tables set a civilized distance apart—contemporary looking but with a hint of the traditional. The food, too, while of the moment, has time-honored palate pleasers like the luscious dill and dark rye bread bits that give the arctic char tartare a deli twist, or the perfectly balanced creamy lemon sauce that swaddles the casconsei (ravioli-like pasta stuffed with sunchokes). Cocktails are balanced, too, as is the wine list, and the soundtrack features peppy alternative music from all decades at a volume that makes one's subconscious happy but doesn't interrupt conversation. In short, this is a restaurant that gets it just right.
New York City
Travel Guide
New York City› Restaurant
Simon & The Whale
23 Lexington Ave. (in the Freehand Hotel)
Our Rating
Neighborhood
The Flatiron District, Union Square & Gramercy Park
Hours
Mon–Fri 8am–11pm, Sat¬–Sun 10am–11pm
Transportation
Subway: 6 to 23rd St.
Phone
212/475-1920
Prices
Main dishes $21–$47
Cuisine Type
Gourmet American
Web site
Simon and the Whale

Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.