High-end, celeb-ridden restaurants abound in all major cities globally, from Paris to New York, but only a handful are deemed worthy enough to be called power dining destinations- the places where titans of industry, politicians and hedge funders break bread and broker deals.
Whether it’s for lunch or dinner, the following six spots fit the bill. They all have an ambiance that pleases the persnickety high-flying set and an appealing food and drinks menu that satisfies their picky palates, too.
Here’s the list:
Milan, Italy
Via Andegari, 9, 20121
+39 02 8731 8897
Situated in the chic Mandarin Oriental hotel, the two Michelin-starred Seta is a favorite stomping ground for executives from Italy’s top fashion houses, industrialists and bigwigs in general. Executive chef Antonio Guida turns out southern Italian cuisine with international touches- think dishes like blue lobster with white miso and matcha tea and impossibly tender duck breast glazed with honey and yuzu. The upscale but unstuffy boite has both indoor and outdoor seating all-year round and an open kitchen where diners can watch Guida’s culinary magic unfold as they eat.
Gearing up for a long, drawn out meal isn’t necessary here if you come midday: Seta offers an express three-course Carte Blanche menu, for around $80, with dishes chosen by Guida himself and accompanied by a glass of wine. His inventive tasting menu at either lunch or dinner is the way to go for a more leisurely meal. Oenophiles will be in heaven: there are a whopping 1,200 labels of wine to choose from.
Paris, France
31, av George V, Paris, 75008
+33 49 52 71 54
The three Michelin-starred Le Cinq, in Four Seasons Hotel George V, is where Paris’s politicians and businessmen come to negotiate and close crucial deals. It has two distinct scenes: lunch is quicker and more business-like. Dinner still attracts the high-powered crowd but has a more relaxed and almost celebratory vibe
Food wise, executive chef Christian Le Squer turns out artfully presented dishes influenced by Brittany’s seaside, where he grew up, such as Dublin Bay prawns with warm mayonnaise and buckwheat pancakes. Diners should definitely save room for the dessert trolley laden with more than a dozen different Instagram worthy pastries and chocolates. It’s worth noting that Le Cinq’s wine cellar, designed in 1928, holds a staggering 50,000 bottles with labels from all over the world. A tour is a must, even for teetotalers.
New York, New York
1278 Third Avenue
(212) 772-0404
When it comes to T Bar, it’s not a question of which bigwigs are regulars- it’s better to ask which ones aren’t. Indeed, a long list of hedge funders, private equity heads and CEO’s come here multiple times a week for a good time and fantastic food.
Given the restaurant’s Upper East Side residential location, all the action happens at dinner: owner Tony Fortuna circulates around the buzzy room greeting his customers, many of whom consider the restaurant to be their home away from home. They order drinks- martinis shaken tableside are a favorite- and work their way through a menu of classics that hasn’t changed much in the last 15 years. Head chef Ben Zwicker turns out mouthwatering cuts of steak like the eight-ounce filet mignon, 24-ounce prime aged rib-eye and a 40-ounce porterhouse big enough for two. Don’t let the “Steak” in the name fool you, though: Zwicker’s repertoire includes Hamachi crudo, a homey roosted chicken, thin and crispy pizzas and grilled branzino with roasted fennel and tomato.
London, England
Shoreditch Town Hall, 380 Old St
+44 20 7729 6496
The Clove Club has a cadre of power diners that includes members of British Parliament, bankers and industrial tycoons. Do they come for the setting or the food? It’s hard to tell. The ambiance is sophisticated and lively but not loud. Die-hard gastronomes, meanwhile, declare it as one of the best restaurants in the United Kingdom. Chef and co-owner Isaac McHale serves a seasonal tasting menu of modern British dishes with influences from Japan and his childhood home of Orkney island, in Scotland- the Orkney scallops dish with potato butter, Japanese sansho and black truffle is a winner, along with a duck and ginger consommé made with a century-old Madeira wine.
Washington, DC
601 Pennsylvania Ave NW
(202) 525-1402
The Obamas are just one example of the political elite- lawmakers and foreign dignitaries among the bunch- who come to Fiola again and again for both lunch and dinner. Indeed, the fine-dining restaurant has developed a cult following for its warm, on-the-mark service and elevated Italian cuisine courtesy of chef and owner Fabio Trabocchi. His lineup of dishes takes inspiration from regions all over Italy and includes Sardinian cavatelli with cherry tomatoes and wild mushrooms, lobster ravioli with ginger and chives and lamb lion with honey and chives. Fiola’s lengthy wine and spirits list is also a draw, and if you have the time and budget, the $220 tasting menu is worth it.
