The Payoff: Park Avenue Autumn
Wednesday, October 10, 2007 at 01:44PM Today, Frank Bruni is smitten with Park Avenue Autumn, turning in a quite enthusiastic two-star review.
It’s not often that I have the feeling that Bruni and I dined at different places. If I’ve dined there at around the same time, I usually feel like he’s describing the same experience as I had. When my rating is different, it’s because I weigh the value of that experience differently, not because I feel he’s describing something alien.
But today, Bruni’s enthusiasm for Park Avenue Autumn is truly unrecognizable in relation to the very mediocre meal we had there not long ago. I can only assume that we caught the restaurant on an off-night: such things can happen.
Unfortunately, it means I am a loser today, and Eater is a winner on our hypothetical one-dollar bets. Eater wins $4 at 4–1 odds, while I lose $1.
Eater NYJ Bankroll $49.50 $53.67 Gain/Loss +4.00 –1.00 Total $53.50 $52.67 * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Won–Lost 21–5 19–7
Reader Comments (1)
So sorry - I usually agree with you but on this one Bruni is spot on; same with eater. I have been to park ave three times now and while the service on the first day of the change over was slightly jumbled the rest of the experience on all three accounts was very good.
Agreed that the food has hits and misses. Changing the menu this often seems to bring that risk. I mostly had hits with the food though. Not a fan of the truffle though which is priced high.
Your take on the design of the space felt waaaaaay off. Again, I am with Bruni on this one. The space was very inventive and fresh, but also comfortable. That means a lot to me. I felt this again with the Fall design. This is the restaurants biggest asset and is incredibly well done, but also thoughtful which is rare.