When we went, I admit, two 24-year-old girls seemed slightly out of place, but I imagine that's only because most youngsters don't realize what amazing meals are to be had for such little money in this city. Lunch is the most affordable way to enjoy 3 and 4 star restaurants in New York, especially because there's less justification for having several drinks with your meal at 12:30 in the afternoon.
And when you do go, make sure you take a friend you are willing to share saliva with, so that you can get the most out of a tasting menu.
The menu at Nougatine, like Jean-Georges, changes seasonally. When we went, the dishes we sampled included these:
Crispy Skin Trout with Thai Pickled Cucumber
"Gently Cooked" Chicken Breast, Baby Fennel, Black Peppercorn Vinagrette
Coconut Coriander Panna Cotta, Passion Fruit Soup, White Chocolate Cocoa Nib Sorbet
All were delicious, though preceded by a rather bland White Bean Soup with Asparagus and Bacon. I was sufficiently impressed with the cuisine as a whole, though admittedly not blown away like I was by lunch in the formal Jean-Georges dining room. And though you are given 3 courses instead of 2 for approximately the same amount of money, in the formal room you also get extra goodies like a trio of amuses bouches and homemade marshmallows at the end of your meal. Still, for those who want a taste of the great J-G without the jacket and tie or the stuffy service, Nougatine is a great lunch option.
