By ANNIE KARNI 
New York Post
September 27, 2009

The knives are out at two Manhattan power restaurants trying to lure President Obama to their tables.

For decades, sitting US presidents have dined at both the Four Seasons and the '21' Club in Midtown -- but the current commander-in-chief has yet to eat at either 52nd Street eatery.

So managers at both restaurants are slinging hash at each other in a bitter battle to feed him first.

"Politically speaking, the Four Seasons is a much better place for Mr. Obama than '21,' " said Four Seasons owner Julian Niccolini.

"It's a more progressive New York City restaurant. About 99 percent of our employees voted for him, and many of our customers gave a lot of money to him. I'm not saying that '21' is not an American restaurant, but the Four Seasons is a truly American experience."

But top brass at '21' scoffed at their rival, just three blocks away.

"We've always been an American restaurant," insisted '21' general manager Brian McGuire. "I've always thought of the Four Seasons as being a Continental restaurant -- I'm not sure when they got all American."

As for the Four Seasons' claim that 99 percent of staffers voted for Obama, McGuire jeered, "Ask Julian who that 1 percent is . . . you might find out it's him."

The '21' Club, a stuffy former speakeasy with a conservative "no jeans" policy, has fed every sitting president since Franklin Delano Roosevelt -- until George W. Bush broke the 72-year streak.

The Four Seasons, a white-linen dining hall established in 1959, started its own presidential run with John F. Kennedy.

Now both restaurants are asking powerful patrons to help them.

When US Sen. Richard Durbin, who represents Obama's home state of Illinois, dined at '21' Monday, restaurant staffers approached him as he was leaving and explained the historic importance of a presidential visit.

Durbin agreed to help. "The senator said he would pass the message along to the president, and I'm sure he will," a Durbin spokesman said.

The Four Seasons is also recruiting power lunchers with political connections for help.

"We've been talking to Democratic fund-raisers who eat here, who helped [Obama] get elected, to see if they can get him to come," Niccolini said.

The White House said it does not comment in advance on Obama's dining schedule.

"You never get a lot of notice when a president comes in," said McGuire. "They'll make a reservation under a different name, then an advance team will come scout the area."

Still, McGuire's ready for the call whenever it comes -- and he's confident he'll get one before Niccolini.

"The cars on 52nd Street head westbound, so you have to pass '21' before you get to the Four Seasons. Chances are the president will stop here first."