Jaclyn Bernstein
President and Partner
Empire Force Events
New York, N.Y.
What are three great restaurants you would recommend for groups meeting in New York City?
President and Partner
Empire Force Events
New York, N.Y.
What are three great restaurants you would recommend for groups meeting in New York City?
- Del Posto: Empire Force Events loves recommending Del Posto for visiting groups simply because it resonates all that is hot about New York City right now. Celebrity chefs Mario Batali and Lidia Bastianich own it. New Yorkers and visiting guests love to dine at venues operated by television chefs. The featured wine is from the Bastianich’s own winery in Italy, and the menu is fabulous. Del Posto is just north of the fabulous Meatpacking District, and it’s a new build, not a restaurant converted from another.
- Battery Gardens: We suggest Battery Gardens for visiting groups since dining and getting there accomplishes many objectives. Located at the southernmost tip of Manhattan, visitors experience Battery Park (yes, a park with trees!) and being right at the water’s edge. Guests have a view of the harbor, including the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. En route, if guests are in Midtown, they transfer through Manhattan, experiencing many different areas. If their time in the city is limited, viewing the Statue of Liberty from here takes care of that must-see attraction. The main dining and private upstairs rooms at Battery Gardens are beautiful, with a white look that gives us the opportunity to design an event any way the group wants. The restaurant’s managing partner, Paul Nicaj, is a legend; he was the Plaza Hotel’s executive banquet director. Nicaj and the venue give everyone a warm feeling!
- Per Se: We love the opportunity to produce group events at Per Se, New York City’s East Coast version of famous chef Thomas Keller’s world-renowned French Laundry in Napa County, Calif. Per Se is the epitome of service and divine dining. Located in the new Time Warner Center, guests get a new “entrance” experience by coming through the upscale shopping emporium. The views of Central Park are stunning, and the multicourse tasting menu is superbly served, even in the private dining rooms. The added touch of going into the spotless kitchen (with a TV feed to and from Napa!) at the end of the meal completes this fine epicurean adventure.