Telepan

Tragic!!!
NYT Now: Telepan, an Upper West Side Mainstay, Has Closed —

Permanently closed.
RIP to the best farm to table restaurant in NYC. Your food had great soul. Both inspired and humble. Such a loss.

I had the pleasure of dining at Telepan last weekend for brunch with my mom and my boyfriend. I have to say I really enjoyed the food I ordered — the shrimp and grits were delicious and the seasonal fish dish I ordered was so flavorful. I enjoyed how seemingly simple and classic dishes could be so original in taste and presentation while still feeling comforting and classic. Service was good although a little slow (wish they had brought out the basket of breads and sweets earlier) but everything was very good. Décor is a little sparse and it kind of looks like some of the décor is part of someone’s home but I really like the dishware and silverware. Overall really lovely experience and would highly recommend, especially if you are looking to impress without going over the top.

My husband and I always look forward to Restaurant Week as an excuse to have amazing meals at some of the city’s best restaurants. And our Friday night RW dinner at Telepan was no exception! It’s one of the few 2016 Michelin Star winners offering a winter Restaurant Week dinner service, so we knew we couldn’t pass up the opportunity to dine here.
For RW, we had a choice of three ($ 38) or four courses ($ 48) off of their regular menu, with or without wine pairings. Naturally, our group chose the four course option so we could try one item from each section of the menu. Plus we were starvinggg lol.
Course 1: HOUSE MADE VENISON SAUSAGE (walnut, celery root & apple salad)
The venison sausage was so yummy and made a great start to our meal. I hadn’t had venison in a while, so I was excited to try it as a sausage. The accompanying salad was also good, and helped to lighten up such a dense starter, but obviously took a back seat to the meat!
* I also tasted the HOUSE-​SMOKED BROOK TROUT (corn blini & green onion sour cream), and it was pretty good too! The trout was soft and tender and FRESH. Definitely worth a try if fresh fish is your thing! If we visit again, I may opt for this over the sausage.
Course 2: CAULIFLOWER (roasted & flan, crushed shell beans & herb oil)
The roasted cauliflower was good, and a nice vegetable to have between the sausage and the chicken, but it may have been the only dish that I thought I could attempt on my own. The cauliflower flan was interesting and maybe my favorite part of the plate. I didn’t quite understand the beans, and I ended up passing that on to my husband to finish. All in all, it was tasty, but it was my least favorite course of the meal.
* I also tasted my husband’s MALFATTI & CABBAGE (house-​made stracciatella, garlic & basil), which was amazing. It was more filling than my cauliflower, and made for a substantial plate. The pasta was delicious though, and I would probably order this dish over the Cauliflower next time.
Course 3: ROASTED CHICKEN (brussels sprouts, poppy seeds, crème fraîche and egg pasta)
Never in my life have I had roasted chicken that was this juicy, tender, and full of flavor. This was really a stunning dish! Everything was absolutely perfect. The pasta was so fresh and creamy. But the chicken! Unbelievable. A perfect plate.
Course 4: MEYER LEMON MERINGUE PIE (citrus & white chocolate salad)
I have yet to meet a lemon dessert I don’t like, and this meringue pie is no exception. I should say that the consistency was a little different than I expected, with the lemon curd being looser than I thought it would be, and the crust just a little bit softer. But the flavors were exceptional. And the citrus & white chocolate salad was an unexpected bonus, because 1) I had never thought that white chocolate and citrus went together so well, and 2) the acidity cut through the sweetness of the chocolate so nicely! Another lovely plate by Telepan, and a wonderful ending to our meal.
The «bonuses» were so fun as well. The bread offered at the beginning of the meal was delicious. I opted for the raisin & fennel roll, which was still warm and soft and welcoming. And our server came around with seconds! (I didn’t get a second roll, knowing I was getting four courses of food very soon, but my husband did!) We also got an amuse bouche of onion soup. I was wary because I don’t like soup, but this was more like a small shot of hot broth with a light onion flavor, and I liked it! Who knew hahah. Finally, we were treated to little coconut truffle cookies at the end of the meal, and luckily for me, the rest of my group hated coconut hahah. They were so good!
I think the four of us really enjoyed & appreciated our meal here, and I would say that this was one of the more «approachable» Michelin-​starred restaurants that we’ve tried together. And, for what it’s worth, this is the one that my husband really wants to return to! I liked the structure of their 3– or 4-​course tasting menu, and the food was so fresh and creative. I’m a big fan of seasonal menus too, so Telepan was definitely a win in my book!

Came here during New York restaurant week winter 2016. Had dinner on a weekday. Complimentary onion soup tastes good. Lobster pasta does not worth $ 10 surcharge. Pork tastes only ok. My dessert coconut cake was the highlight. Will not pay the original price here.

I’ve been here for regular weekend brunch and restaurant week dinner, and had a very pleasant time.
1. The interior is very modern, I thought it kind of looks like a huge living room of a luxury apartment. Servers are very nice.
2. When I went for brunch they had different kinds of bread which I really enjoyed. For the dinner it was only one kind, still nice but I liked the brunch ones a lot more.
3. Menus that I tried:
— HOUSE-​SMOKED BROOK TROUT: Oh my god I loved it. It was just so soft and perfectly marinated. I’d go back only for this.
— CITRUS CREPES: was very classy, but nothing extraordinary, I’d say.
— MALFATTI & CABBAGE: It was very nice pasta! wasn’t too salty or overwhelming, for me it was perfect combination of the components. The texture of noodle was amazing!
— HERITAGE PORK: It was a little too tender
— COCONUT cake: It tasted good for the first several bites, then it got too sweet I couldn’t really finish it all even though I have a big sweet tooth. Very rich and heavy.
— GRILLED HANGER STEAK: decent.

What a wonderful experience. From the food to the décor, Telepan is a must try.
Décor: Simple and clean yet still cozy. You don’t feel like your on top of one another and you actually have room to eat. There are 2 restrooms which are unisex, very clean and spacious.
Service: Wonderful. We called to let them know we would be arriving 10 minutes late which they were completely fine with. Upon arrival we were promptly seated in a nice 3 top for the two of us. The plan all along was to try the tasting. Our waiter David was kind and attentive and I actually used his recommendations for my tasting. His choices were spot on.
Food: Wonderful. Per David’s recommendation, I had the mushroom soup, cauliflower, monkfish and the coconut cake. All of which were perfect. The cauliflower was perfectly roasted with a lovely herb sauce, probably my favorite dish. The monkfish had a lovely potato purée, garnished in lobster. The coconut cake, amazing. Moist, fluffy and light. Each dish was very well made, none of the flavors overpowered the main ingredient and nothing was too saucy.
Even though it was a tasting menu, all the portions were very large; you actually go home stuffed. I will definitely be back when the menu changes. Absolutely wonderful experience.

Chilled out during the 2016 Valentine’s Day. This Vday is said to be the coldest weekend in the NYC history.
We two parked our car near Central Park, walked to Telepan, a beautifully decorated bistro-​style Michelin starred restaurant. The vibe was so cozy. The reddish painting impressed me most. The décor was kind of neutral and natural, looked so cool.
Telepan got the great brunch menu, $ 32 per person, with bread and sweets things, the first course and the second course.
Bread and sweets, including scones and pastry, combined by butter and marmalade. Very English. Then I got the ricotta cheese blintzes, for me, it was super sweet, beyond my expectations. I had to drink lots of water. The second I ordered the sea bass, with Chinese mushroom, which surprised me! I knew it is hard to buy these mushroom in New York, the only place you can get them is from Chinatown. Oh! Wow. However, this dish is a little bit salty.
The service was great too, good for special occasion and date.

Came here for Valentine’s Day brunch with the wife and daughter. After some research I was told this place is fairly baby/​toddler friendly during lunch/​brunch service which was a great place to visit with the whole family. During service I notice a couple other younger kids but they were all in their teens, we were the only one with a toddler. The dining room was still fairly quiet unlike landmarc in Columbus circle for weekend brunch. for Valentine’s Day it’s prix fixe menu but u can order a la carte from the menu for children.
We arrived early for our reservation but was Lucky enough to find parking right outside the restaurant. The host and hostess were both friendly, took our coats and interacted briefly with my daughter. We were seated in the very corner of the dining room which I understand given that we had a toddler with us. Our waiter provided good service for us throughout dining and the dishes were tasteful but I would imagine dinner service would more truly represent the restaurant versus their brunch menu.
Overall I enjoyed the experiment and hope to come back for dinner one day.

The only star off was because our server is just wayyy to busy to acknowledge our existence the whole meal which is not what we expected in a higher-​end restaurant like Telepan. He spent more time sorting the forks than taking a look at me who kept waiving at him to order– it took over 15min after we were ready to get his attention and the check…
Enjoyed the Grapefruit tequila cocktail a lot– not too sweet and very refreshing.
During RW, they have 3 options: 3 savory courses, 2 savory+ dessert, or 3 savory + dessert. I strongly suggest you not to leave desserts behind they are amazing!
App– soup: a little too salty but not too bad; venison sausage: amazingly done with a little veggie that is sweet and sour, opens up my appetite.
Main– cod: absolutely love! And hoping for a little more lobster in the dish but it’s nicely cooked with the right sauce, not too heavy.
Hanger steak– also nicely done.
Desserts– grapefruit granita: melting in my mouth!!! Not too sweet very very refreshing with all the ingredients. PB& choco: the bar is soft and not too strong but full of flavor.
Overall, I would def come back even just for regular menus!

I usually give a place 5 stars if it blows me away. 4 stars if i think everything I ate was deliciois. And 3 stars if i have a totally average experience. This one falls in the latter.
When we arrived our coats were taken. We were waiting for 1 more to arrive and we were early so we got a drink at the bar. It took an excessively long time for the bartender to approach us and he knew we were waiting, he didn’t seem very busy. Once I got the drink I thought it was very well poured, its just that the process took longer than it should have. When I bartended in a previous life I always made sure my customers were addressed immediately upon coming to the bar, or at least notified that I would be with them momentarily.
Next they sat us. We had to all do the same version of the restaurant week meal which was annoying. You could either do 3 savory or 2 savory and 1 dessert. The whole table had to have the same game plan though. Why? For what reason could you not bring me out a savory dish while my three counterparts got a dessert? Makes no sense. This was frustrating as I’m not big on sweets but my girlfriend and colleagues love them. I wast going to deny them that experience.
Anyhow. We started with the house made venison sausage and brussels with potatoes. Really enjoyed the brussels and potatoes, with poached egg. Very good. The house made venison sausage was decent but the portion size was ridiculously small. Like almost insulting. Two pieces, each about an inch, with a small pile of slaw. I know its an appetizer but it seemed grossly undersized in proportion to the potatoes and brussels, which was also an app. I know it sounds petty but I notice these things as a diner.
Next we got the barramundi and the heritage pork. The barramundi was pretty good. Cooked well. Sauce was a little much. The heritage pork was a huge let down. It was two dry cuts, both of which were indiscernible, plus a piece of crispy jowl or fatback or something. One of the dry pieces was belly, and the other was just a slab of loin or something. Left me scratching my head.
Last we ordered the meyer lemon pie and the chocolate something or other cake. They were out of the pie after all so i settled for the grapefruit granita. The choco cake was nothing special. But the granita was actually pretty good. It had a shot of prosecco in it which i usually hate but here it was quite fitting. Also tried some of my friends coconut cake. I’m not a coconut fan but I can see how it would have been great for those who are.
Overall the experience left something to desire. I feel like we really only got a small part of the experience. The service was fine. Not good or bad, just fine. And the place could have been more dimly lit, which would have helped the atmosphere. I know its restaurant week so restaurants arent at their peak, but great experiences during restaurant week can easily lead to future patronage in my book.
I don’t think I would come back here again unless someone else was paying. And definitely not during restaurant week when there are so many other places that I feel have provided more than adequate levels of execution during the meals that ive had when visiting for restaurant week.

I’ve been wanting to try Telepan for a while and their menu for restaurant week of winter 2016 looked appealing, so the boyf and I made a reservation for the first friday. First of all, the décor is beautiful and inviting. Tables are properly spread out so that it feels intimate, but you’re not on top of whoever is next to you. It took a little while to begin the meal, but eventually we were brought an amuse bouche of Sweet Onion Soup with some type of foam on top, it was tasty and a good start. Breads available this evening were ciabatta and one with oats, these were eh.
My courses included the Gemelli Di Maiale, Hanger Steak, and the Hot Chocolate dessert. These were all amazing. The pasta is cooked very al dente, which is not my favorite, but is technically correct for a high end restaurant of course. The flavors in the pasta dish were addictive and it’s extremely rich. The hanger steak has a drizzle of yellow pepper sauce on the plate that is so delicious and added to the flavor, so I requested a side of more. The hot chocolate dessert hit the spot so perfectly for me on this evening, as it was the beginning of a huge snow storm and this dish was like warm chocolate pudding with a big marshmallow on top. Loved it!
My boyfriend got the Malfatti and Cabbage, Heritage Pork, and some kind of Peanut Butter and Jelly dessert. He really liked everything, but wasn’t too overwhelmed with the pork dish, which is surprising given its Polish elements (pierogi, sauerkraut) and him being Polish! He and I also had the Peeper Ale and the Italian 77, respectively. We loved both. The service wasn’t bad and also wasn’t flawless, but overall we are eager to return to try the regular menu.

Came for restaurant week in winter 2016 and had a phenomenal meal. There were three of us, and I was able to try:
+BRUSSELS SPROUTS & POTATO SALAD (coddled egg, mustard & friseé)
+HOUSE-​SMOKED BROOK TROUT (corn blini & green onion sour cream)
+CAULIFLOWER (roasted & flan, crushed shell beans & herb oil)
+LOBSTER BOLOGNESE (spaghetti, light herbs & shallot-​garlic-​tomato broth)
+HERITAGE PORK (pierogi, kraut, jelly)
+HANGER STEAK (potatoes & seasonal vegetables, mustard)
*Sea bass
+Ice cream trio (butterscotch, black and white, walnut)
+Lemon meringue tart (sugared grapefruit)
+“Hot chocolate” (homemade marshmallow)
It’s impossible to choose a favorite, as I loved different elements of each course. If you’re one person doing the pre fixe, I recommend the cauliflower (it was impeccably cooked), the pork (perfect texture and the sauces were amazing), and the lemon tart (which was so light and fluffy that it was like eating a lemon cloud).
Chef/​owner Bill Telepan liked my Instagram afterwards and I squeed.

My review is based on my dining experience during restaurant week. They have the option to have for (3 savory OR 2 savory and a dessert) or (4 course dinner). The restaurant has a nice ambiance.
I ordered:
HOUSE-​SMOKED BROOK TROUT corn blini & green onion sour cream
GEMELLI DI MAIALE pork sausage, robiola pancetta & greens
HANGER STEAK garlic potato hash & seasonal vegetables
«Hot chocolate» dessert.
The food was very good and had good presentation.

Went in for the limited edition 7 course/​10 dish tasting menu for $ 125.
This was THE best tasting menu I’ve had in NYC so far. It’s a shame nobody will get to experience it regularly.
We didn’t know what we were in for when my girlfriend and I walked through the fancy looking dining area past the tables of all the OLD money.
As far as food goes, we loved that there were none of those pretentious tiny bite size «dishes» all the other places. They delivered substantial plates of food each and every course, and the food was delicious. FINALLY, a restaurant not afraid to use SALT in their dishes. Compliments to the chef!
Also, we loved having access to 3 types of unlimited dinner rolls. Although we were probably the only table there to actually ask for more bread. HA
On the service side, it was great too. Staff was knowledgeable about the drinks on the menu and courteous. After every course they rushes over to wipe the crumbs and change every dish, fork, and knife on the table.
The «note from the chef» about each upcoming dish was a nice touch too.
This may be the first and only tasting menu I’ve ever been to in Manhattan where I was not hungry when I left.
The ONLY downside I really had with Telepan’s tasting menu was the duration and pacing.
It felt like we were there for 3 hours, and most of it was just waiting 20 minutes between dishes to come out. For me, it was unpleasant
But overall, definitely worthy of its Michelin star

Telepan is the perfect place to celebrate a special occasion in a «casually fancy» environment. It’s a great space with solid service and a good-​value prix fixe menu.
We tried the prix fixe and did not leave disappointed or hungry. I started with the cauliflower salad and was pleasantly surprised by the great flavor coming from the raw vegetable. My second course was the duck meatballs — these were cooked perfectly and had great texture and flavor. The main course was a great roast chicken with grains and vegetables and then I finished the meal with some gelato.
Highly recommended for a special occassion or nice night out that does not feel too stuffy and has excellent food.

Telepan, as I mentioned in my check-​in, is the perfect (place) for the pre-​theatre palate!
With a show at 8:00, my friend and I made reservations for 5:00 to give ourselves more than enough time to savor the different stages of our most delicious meal.
To begin, we each ordered a glass of red wine. We then shared an order of the scallop ceviche-​like special. The scallops themselves were delicious, and were accompanied by Korean-​style pancakes. They were the best part of the meal. We continued with an order of the dry-​aged ribeye for 2, accompanied by garlic potato hash and seasonal vegetables. The vegetables were delectable, and were soon devoured, and the garlic potato hash was tasty. The ribeye was perfectly prepared, but was served in absurd abundance. What was labeled as a dish for two was really enough for four and sadly, we had to leave some, as it would have made us sick otherwise. My recommendation would be that if you are a group of three or more who all enjoy sharing, to share both this and another dish. That way, the meat is more reasonably distributed.
To finish, we shared an order of the chocolate pecan pie. My friend loves pecan pie, and enjoyed every bite.
The service was outstanding; I’ve rarely received better. And the ambiance was relaxing. All in all, as good as it gets!

Heard from my colleague that Telepan was one of those places in the city that you gotta try it out, so I made reservation for me and my friend for our double-​birthday dinner. It turned out to be a fantastic choice.
Telepan was not at all some place that will overwhelm, and ambience was to some extent relaxing though it is a one-​starred Michelin. Went for the four course tasting menu. Several dishes were definitely must-​tries: Baked oyster, lobster bolognese, duck breast, monkfish, and strawberry parfait. If one thing, lobster bolognese!
The waiter eventually brought us our birthday treats, a series of chocolate cookies. All of them were just awesome. Would strongly suggest this place, very high quality price ratio.

I would highly recommend Telepan. From the service to the food, the experience was impeccable. While I found the décor at odds with the new American menu, the noise level was perfect. I could easily have a conversation with those at my table but it wasn’t too quiet as upscale restaurants often are.
My group of four tried pretty much everything on the menu. I was especially impressed by the beet salad, the duck ragu, the lobster bolognese (one of the chef’s specialties), the AMAZING coconut cake, and the s’mores dessert. I would highly recommend each of those dishes. I loved the chef’s take on everyday dishes like Bolognese and smore’s, which he elevated to make more upscale and original. The only dishes that disappointed were the monkfish and the Maine polluck, both of which were overly salty. DO NOT skip dessert-​it was the the coconut cake and s’mores were both truly amazing.
Our server, Meghan, was very knowledgeable about the entire menu. We took all of her suggestions when ordering, including cocktail and wine pairings. She was really attentive and all of our drinks and food dishes were brought out at a perfect time, allowing us to leisurely finish each course without feeling rushed but not taking so long that we began to wonder where our food was. We really appreciated that the chef came out to introduce himself and check on us as well.

** Restaurant Week Summer 2015 Review **
I’m a huge fan of restaurants that offer items from their regular menu on their Restaurant Week menu. Telepan falls right into this category. Their RW lunch menu allows patrons to pick an appetizer, an entrée and a dessert off of their regular menu for the low price of $ 25.
For my appetizer, I went with the House Smoked Brook Trout with corn blini and green onion sour cream. This dish was divine. The smoked trout was flavorful without being too salty or fishy. The Boyfriend had the Poached Egg and Frisée Salad with wild mushrooms and mustard vinaigrette. We were both pleasantly surprised when we each took a bite. This salad is simple — there are only a grand total of 4 – 5 ingredients in it but it was so flavorful!
For my entrée, I had the Roasted Chicken with carrots vinaigrette, organic grits, and wild spinach. The spinach was a bit bitter but everything else on my plate was perfection. The chicken was so tender and soft, I barely had to chew each bite. The Boyfriend had the Maine Pollock with salsa verde, heirloom tomatoes, and eggplant. The portion size was very generous and he really liked it.
For dessert, I had the Telepan S’more, which was heavenly. It comes with a dark chocolate brownie with marshmallow in the middle and graham cracker ice cream on top. The marshmallow was fluffy and slightly melted. It was also a bit warm, which tasted so good when mixed with the coldness of the graham cracker ice cream. I highly recommend coming to Telepan just for this dessert!
The BF had the Coconut Cake, which was too crumbly and not airy at all. The icing, which I think was a cream cheese, was to heavy. I mean, it wasn’t bad, but it wasn’t particularly outstanding either.
Service was attentive without being overbearing. Our dishes came out in a reasonable amount of time — we had enough time to chat and enjoy our courses without feeling rushed. I huge pet peeve of mine is a rushed meal! I would definitely return to Telepan — even on a normal basis because their dinner prix fixes aren’t even expensive!