"When framed as a $190, 10-course, two-hour meal, Atelier in Lincoln Square seems like a standard special occasion restaurant. But unlike other places on this list that are huge, loud, sceney, or all of the above, this is none of those things. It’s tiny, quiet, relaxed, and minimally decorated, and that toned-down elegance makes it unique. But that’s not to say it’s void of personality—the incredibly friendly staff and fun playlist that cycles through hip-hop and bluegrass keep it from feeling uncomfortably sterile. And like its wide-ranging playlist, each delicious course also covers a lot of ground, jumping from crispy akara to yuba noodle soup, to a cute mini apple cider donut with tiny edible flowers. If you want a refined, low-key celebration with zero chance of interruptions from errant sparklers, this is the spot." - adrian kane, veda kilaru, john ringor
