The story goes that my amazing and wonderful girlfriend mentioned a place she wanted to try called Atera. I found it also on the recently published Michelin star NYC restaurant list with 2 stars...and of course, what I always do, I checked Open Table. Places like Atera, that are impossible to get into with all the hype and accolades would definitely have a late Friday evening reservation available...right???? of course not, BUT the luck of the Irish (I am almost 50%) was there with us. A 9:30pm reservation was there, sitting like a diamond in the rough....and we so are glad we went! You walk into this very small, elegant and cozy place with seating for about 12 people around a bar that is right on top of the kitchen. The skilled and amazing preparation of each dish is right there for each person to see. The wait staff and chefs move like artists in a scripted play. Each movement and dish and discussion point is timed and spot on. Some dishes are prepared to look like Ramen noodles and we asked to guess what we each thought it was. Of course, she was dead on more items than me, but you are so amazed at how squid noodles look like ramen or how a churro normally made of dough is a salsify (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salsify)
Atera is truly a gem.....and it was the BEST OPENTABLE EVER......until next the best one....