Taking its name from the small, tender green olive harvested in the Mediterranean, Picholine opened its doors at 35 West 64th Street in October of 1993. "It instantly became one of the best restaurants around Lincoln Center," according to The New York Times, which gave Picholine a prestigious three-star rating.

The restaurant received a James Beard Foundation nomination for the country's Outstanding Restaurant in 2007, and was awarded two stars in the 2008, 2009, 2010, and 2011 editions of Michelin Guide New York City.