Vue Restaurant at Le Bleu hotel

....apparantly has a roof deck bar and a chef already formerly of the new Monkey Bar in Manhattan. This could either be very good, or a complete sh*tstorm. Anyone been there yet? Anyone know if it's even open?

The hotel is such a strange presence...absolutely beautiful looking, but in between auto repair shops and Staples.

i looked into having my parents stay here when they visited since it's super close, but from the reviews i read online, apparently the bathroom wall is all glass. so not only when you go to the bathroom is everyone going to watch you poop but if you turn on the light in there at night it would shine right into the bedroom.

my parents weren't ready for that experience so they slept on an inflatable mattress.

Joe....I was asking about the restaurant, though. I want to make sure this doesn't turn into a thread about the merits of the hotel (or bike lanes.)

Is it actually open? According to the hotel's website the restaurant is coming "fall 2009".

I can't imagine how much work that chef will get cooking for two hotel guests a night.

every time i walk by there seems to be plenty of lights on in the place.

noticed when i was looking online for a room for friends a couple months ago, that quite a few nights were totally booked even.

may i ask why some people on this board are SO negative. about EVERYTHING?

I think some of us tried to check out the rooftop bar there several months ago when BigGuy's parents were in town and staying there. It turned out not to be open yet at that time.

I have been there yesterday, but it was just a preview for the family and friends. A relative of mine is a co-owner of the Vue. The food there is delicious and it looks absolutely beautiful there. The colors are magnificant and there is a view of Manhatten from the windows. It is located on the very top floor and will also include a lounge on the roof. There will be music and drinks on the roof. No, it is not open yet because they are not officially done with it. There is still work being done. I think it will open in a couple of weeks or so. I am not a hundred percent sure. However, when it does open, all of you have to visit this place. It is definitly a unique place with excellent food and staff. You will enjoy the experience.

joehill wrote: i looked into having my parents stay here when they visited since it's super close, but from the reviews i read online, apparently the bathroom wall is all glass. so not only when you go to the bathroom is everyone going to watch you poop but if you turn on the light in there at night it would shine right into the bedroom.

my parents weren't ready for that experience so they slept on an inflatable mattress.

Not to get into the merits of the hotel but, generally speaking, I don't understand this trend to have glass bathrooms in hotel rooms (please, TMI!). I believe the new Standard Hotel has this, also. The NYTimes wrote that a daughter and her father booked a room and no one told them about the bathrooms. They said it was awkward, to say the least.

Carnivore wrote: I think some of us tried to check out the rooftop bar there several months ago when BigGuy's parents were in town and staying there. It turned out not to be open yet at that time.

I think that, in theory, this could be quite lovely. In order for it to happen, though, the prices and experience has to be good and it has to attract enough of a local crowd. The view itself would be amazing. I know my wife would want me to take her there every damn night.

It's all "in theory," though, and it could just as easily be all dressed up with no place to go rather quickly. When it's open, I'll give it a shot for sure.

Thanks as well to the relative of the co-owner who posted. Keep us all informed.

The negativity on here is why I stay away sometimes for weeks at a time, but I always come back.....

Yeah, I'd definitely try it once for the view and go back if the food and service are good.

(and good to know about the bathroom view. We were thinking it's a great spot for guests that don't want/get our floor. Who would think that bathroom situation is good for more than one person?)

probably a good spot for european tourists who want a slick room at half the cost of one in manhattan.

and they don't have nearly as many hangups with regard to nudity as we do here, so they probably aren't bothered by the bathroom situation.

i also don't believe that all the rooms have a glass wall into the bathroom. i believe that is a rumor.

It's not about the nudity, but that there are times I do not want an audience. It looks nice in pictures, but there are several issues I have with. Hopefully I won't need to stay there, though

I just want dinner with a great view!

pastoralia wrote: I can't imagine how much work that chef will get cooking for two hotel guests a night.

It's not hotel guests that make these restaurants/bars successful, it's locals . with those views, they have a leg up on the competition.

Manya1994 wrote: I have been there yesterday, but it was just a preview for the family and friends. A relative of mine is a co-owner of the Vue. The food there is delicious and it looks absolutely beautiful there. The colors are magnificant and there is a view of Manhatten from the windows. It is located on the very top floor and will also include a lounge on the roof. There will be music and drinks on the roof. No, it is not open yet because they are not officially done with it. There is still work being done. I think it will open in a couple of weeks or so. I am not a hundred percent sure. However, when it does open, all of you have to visit this place. It is definitly a unique place with excellent food and staff. You will enjoy the experience.

GREAT FIRST POST

According to the NY Times, Vue is open now. Hubby's birthday is this week and I'm wondering whether I should take him there. Anyone know anything?

I think you should be the test case...it does look interesting (but will the food match the Vue?)

We looked at this hotel for a bunch of family coming in from out of town and all the rooms they showed us had the glass walled bathrooms. This was probably 8-9 months ago and at that point the restaurant/lounge was "coming soon" too so don't hold your breath. I think the likliehood of having a really good restaurant there is minimal, but a rooftop bar would be fun.

We ended up putting people up at the Holiday Inn Express on Union which was more than adequate and cheaper than the hotel blu.

just fyi...the brand new Standard Hotel in manhattan (the one which straddles the high line) also has the glass bathroom situation. it's not really that big a deal for most. the toilet area is separate and enclosed.

this place could potentially be a really great spot, especially given that the chef is noted and highly respected.

belzjm wrote: this place could potentially be a really great spot, especially given that the chef is noted and highly respected.

Any idea who the chef is, or will be? The NY Times only said who the consulting Executive Chef was so I presume he isn't there full time

from FIPS:

http://www.fuckedinparkslope.com/home/vue-opens-at-hotel-le-bleu.html#disqus_thread

Am I the only one who finds that blog not funny or informative? It seems to me that most of the stuff posted on there is taken from here or other blogs anyway and the things that are original are not worth reading. maybe it's me.

No I don't find that blog funny or informative - although there's a disclaimer on the bottom that says it's not to be taken seriously - but what do you want with a website name like that. This was the first time I've seen it or heard of it...I won't be clicking on it again.

I only know of it since they stole one of my posts and made it the highlight of their day - voting on which couch I should get

me likey fips

http://www.vuerest.com/menu.html

The menu doesn't look adventurous, but there are certainly several things on there I'd love to try. I was raring to go for dinner tonight but my bf just told me he's going climbing after work. Boo!

OpossumQueen wrote: http://www.vuerest.com/menu.html

The menu doesn't look adventurous, but there are certainly several things on there I'd love to try. I was raring to go for dinner tonight but my bf just told me he's going climbing after work. Boo!

I agree. Nothing ground-breaking, but definitely looks worth a try.

Any place that serves a molten chocolate cake will not get my business. Hello, 1994 calling!

8thandPrez wrote: Any place that serves a molten chocolate cake will not get my business. Hello, 1994 calling!

Well it's a good thing they serve Chocolate Molten Cake then. what is Molten cake?

belzjm wrote: just fyi...the brand new Standard Hotel in manhattan (the one which straddles the high line) also has the glass bathroom situation. it's not really that big a deal for most. the toilet area is separate and enclosed.

this place could potentially be a really great spot, especially given that the chef is noted and highly respected.

I stayed at the Standard, and while the massive bath/shower opened up to the living area, there was no glass, and the toilet was totally separate.

BrooklynJack wrote: [quote=8thandPrez]Any place that serves a molten chocolate cake will not get my business. Hello, 1994 calling!

Well it's a good thing they serve Chocolate Molten Cake then. what is Molten cake?

wiki:
The U.S.-based chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten claims to have invented molten chocolate cake in New York City in 1987, but the French chef and chocolatier Jacques Torres has disputed that, arguing that such a dish already existed in France [1]. According to Vongerichten, he pulled a chocolate sponge cake from the oven before it was done and found that the center was still runny, but was warm and had both a good taste and a good texture. Regardless of who invented the dish, Vongerichten has been credited with popularizing it in the United States, and it is now almost a de rigueur inclusion on high-end restaurant dessert menus.