AMERICAN EXPRESS LAUNCHES FIRST EDITION OF NEW YORK TASTEMAKER INDEX, PROVIDING AN INSIDER'S LOOK AT THE LOCAL DINING SCENE

Foodie Cardmembers "dish" on the city's top five "modern-classic" restaurants

NEW YORK, October 18, 2007 -- What restaurants are foodies dishing about? Starting today, American Express will begin a monthly alert called the Tastemaker Index, which will provide an insider's look at the hottest restaurants recently talked about and dined at on American Express Dish (www.amexnetwork.com/thedish). Dish is a social networking website dedicated to connecting people who love to dine out. What Dish provides that is unlike any other dining resource is the web's most robust combination of dining offers, information and insights, including peer restaurant ratings, expert picks and instant reservations among other features. Available in New York and San Francisco, Dish is an ongoing platform, allowing diners to tap into the insights of a diverse group of passionate Cardmembers and celebrity foodies, better known as the Dish Tastemaker community.

The first Tastemaker Index reveals the top Modern-Classic Restaurants in New York:

NEW YORK CITY: Top 5 Modern-Classic Restaurants
Rank* Restaurant
1. The Four Seasons Restaurant
2. Gramercy Tavern
3. Eleven Madison Park
4. Mercer Kitchen
5. Gotham Bar & Grill
Source: American Express Dish Tastemakers
* These rankings are based on the number of charges made by Tastemakers at restaurants. While they don't account for a restaurant's size or hours of operation, they do reflect the dining trends of an exclusive group of food-loving Cardmembers.

Tastemaker Picks
1. The Four Seasons Restaurant
99 E. 52nd St., New York, NY 10022; 212-754-9494

  • A long-time favorite in New York, Tastemakers call The Four Seasons Restaurant a "New York Institution” and praise its modern take on American cuisine and classic style.
  • "Food is elegantly simple, the room is classically simple, and the service is simply divine."

2. Gramercy Tavern
42 E. 20th St., New York, NY 10003; 212-477-0777

  • A renewal of a classic American tavern, Tastemakers applaud Gramercy Taverns' ambiance and service, while giving high marks to the flavorful desserts and not-to-miss tasting menu.
  • "This is one of my favorite places for special occasions. The food and service are always excellent. It never disappoints."

3. Eleven Madison Park
11 Madison Ave. New York, NY 10010; 212-889-0905

  • Set amidst a stunning art deco dining room, Tastemakers compliment the modern French cuisine at Eleven Madison Park, noting Daniel Humm's delicious, subtle cooking and the "gracious service."
  • "Delicious, ambitious food."

4. Mercer Kitchen
99 Prince St., New York, NY 10012; 212-966-5454

  • Mingled in the streets of SoHo, Mercer Kitchen's bar, lounge and restaurant receive high marks from Tastemakers for its cool atmosphere, people watching, and amazing drink and wine list.
  • "I had the most refreshing cucumber cocktail here! Great neighborhood and ambiance and the food rocks."

5. Gotham Bar & Grill
12 E. 12th St., New York, NY 10003; 212-620-4020

  • A sophisticated downtown dining spot, Tastemakers are drawn to Gotham's elegant décor and artistic food, fit for a special evening or a meal with out-of-town guests.
  • "The quality of the food is pretty unbeatable – but it's the presentation that makes me want to go back. This is definitely food as art."

More on Dish
In addition to the existing features and offers on the site, Tastemakers are encouraged to come back often to check out new offers from Dish. New today, Dish will provide incentive offers to Tastemakers – which are discounts for off-peak dining.

"We're always looking for fresh ways to provide value to Cardmembers and in cities like New York and San Francisco with tens of thousands of restaurants to choose from, we knew we had an opportunity to connect our community of frequent dining Cardmembers," said Penni Berns, vice president, Network and Merchant Marketing. "With Dish, we're able to provide valuable insights, information and offers because of our strong relationships with merchants and Cardmembers."

American Express Dish is currently available in New York City and San Francisco. To become a Tastemaker and start dishing, go to www.amexnetwork.com/thedish. Tastemaker participation is open to all U.S. consumers with American Express-branded cards.

About American Express
Merchant Services is the merchant network of American Express, which acquires and maintains relationships with millions of merchants around the globe, which welcome American Express-branded Cards. American Express Company is a leading global payments, network, travel and banking company founded in 1850.



Contacts:
 Sarah Meron
212.640.5503
Sarah.B.Meron@aexp.com