Peak, the 101st-floor restaurant atop 30 Hudson Yards, has reached new heights.<\/p>\n
Opened by London-based Rhubarb Hospitality just before the pandemic, the eatery never quite hit its stride. Last fall, Tao Group took over as management. After a thoughtful redesign, it reopened as Peak With Priceless at the end of May. It\u2019s now the city\u2019s top place to dine with a view \u2014 conjuring the spirit of Windows on the World<\/a>.<\/p>\n Nighttime reservations for window tables are already hard to come by and the festive vibe from Peak\u2019s same-floor neighbor, Avenue Sky Lounge \u2014 a second coming of the fabled West Chelsea nightlife spot and home to a Knicks victory celebration \u2014 spills over onto the dining floor.<\/p>\n Peak has reopened as Peak with Priceless, and the restaurant has really hit its stride Stephen Yang for NY Post<\/p>\n There will never be another Windows on the World, the sprawling venue at the top of the World Trade Center north tower that was the city\u2019s No. 1 celebration venue until its destruction on 9\/11. <\/p>\n Like millions of others, I cherish memories of festive nights there. But its\u00a0vertical windows were too narrow for full appreciation of the skyline. Peak has bigger windows, a bettter uptown location and consistently better food \u2014 not to mention free access to the 100th-floor outdoor observation deck Edge, which starts at $42 per person for non-diners. <\/p>\n Although Tao Group\u00a0operates scenester favorites such as Tao uptown and downtown, Crane Club, Cathedrale and Beauty & Essex, Peak has none of their party-time excesses. It\u2019s a traditional restaurant with a lively, well-chosen rock-and-disco soundtrack.\u00a0 As if to emphasize Peak\u2019s\u00a0continuity with the original Peak, general manager Francesco Fazzari and many other staff are back under the Tao flag.<\/p>\n The original David Rockwell-designed dining room was tweaked by Tao Group\u2019s Susan Nugraha and iCrave, part of architectural firm Journey. Velvet draperies and booths and banquettes in blue and grey have a softer look than their predecessors. Tables were repositioned to better frame the skyline from every seat. The bar that previously hogged windows was relocated to the room\u2019s centers.<\/p>\n The best news is that Peak is once again a fine place to eat. The old Peak declined after a strong start in 2021. Now, Tao Group\u2019s chief culinary officer Ralph Scamardella presides over splendid prix-fixe and a la carte modern-American\u00a0menus. (A la carte appetizers $24 to $37, most entrees $38 to $95, desserts $18 to $27. Window tables are three-course prix-fixe only, $95 at lunch, $145 dinner). <\/p>\n Window tables offer striking views. Stephen Yang for NY Post<\/p>\n