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Le Bernardin
Category: Restaurants Seafood Seafood
The Equitable Building155 W 51st St
New York, NY 10019
Neighbourhoods: Midtown West, Theater District
(212) 554-1515
- Nearest Transit:
-
50 St (1, 2)
7 Av (B, D, E)
49 St (N, Q, R)
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Formal (Jacket Required)
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$$$
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- No
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Quiet
- Ambience:
- Classy, Upscale
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
752 reviews for Le Bernardin
Review Highlights
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"I'll be back soon to try the Le Bernardin tasting menu." In 226 reviews -
"Favorites Black Bass and Filet Mignon Rossini." In 80 reviews -
"Tuna with foie gras is simply delicious." In 32 reviews
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751 reviews in English
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Review from Mimi L.
5/22/2012
This my was number one restaurant to try in NYC and I'm so glad that I got reservations even if it was at 10pm. Walking into the restaurant I already had the feeling of "something amazing. "
We were seated and given the menu to look over and decided on the prix fixe menu for $125. You get a choice of two appetizers, one entrée, and a dessert. I ordered the charred octopus, langoustine, monkfish, and the banana bread. The fiancée ordered the sea medley, Peekytoe crab, arctic char, and chocolate ganache with peanut mousse. I love the little tentacle octopus and I love them better on my plate. My charred octopus was perfectly executed. The texture was great and the meat was tender. The langoustine had to be one of my favorite dishes. The langoustines were delicate and perfectly cooked on a bed of mushroom salad. On top of each langoustine there was a piece of foie gras that added additional richness to the dish without being overpowering. The monk fish was simple, welled seasoned, and flakey. I loved the simplicity of the dish and it really showcased the freshness of the monkfish. So, the great thing about having a partner in crime is having someone drive the getaway car and being able to eat his food right off his plate. The sea medley had caviar, shellfish, Yuzu custard, and smoked bonito broth. The medley was heavenly. However, the medley came in this urchin like bowl which made it difficult to scoop out the last bits of the caviar and custard, Next appetizer that I stole was the crab with cauliflower and mustard curry sauce. I love crab when it's cleaned and taken apart for me. The crab was sweet and the curry played an additional layer of flavor without taking away the sweetness of the crab. The Arctic char was ultra-rare with truffled peas and fava butter lettuce tarragon emulsion and was a great fish but I still preferred my monkfish. Both desserts ended our meal in perfect harmony. The service was phenomenal. Our server was from France and we chatted up about the restaurants that my fiancée and I visited while in Paris and it was nice to meet someone that knew what the hell we were talking about. Our Sommelier was out of this world. He paired our wine perfectly with each dish. We also had an engaging conversation about the wineries at Chateauneuf-du-Pape and once again it's great to have someone respond with nodding and smiles and meaning it. The overall experience was amazing and I would love to go back. -
Review from Ariel D.
Manhattan, NY
5/21/2012
I came here with my boyfriend when he visited me from California.
I think the reviews may have overhyped it a little bit for me, but he sure loved it. The best part were the bread boys. They walk around with a huge tray of different breads. We were never breadless. -
Review from Max G.
San Mateo, CA
5/21/2012
Surprise, 5 stars.
Wait, no actually it is kind of surprising. High price tags garner high expectations. After a packed day of work in Manhattan I really just wanted to unwind and have a nice relaxed, astounding dinner.
I was greeted and escorted to the bar where I asked for some Scotch. They had the usuals, if not solely top shelf (also not surprising) - but when it comes to whisky I actually prefer a nice 14-16 year over a 25 or 30. I like to taste how the alcohol mixes with the wood vs. getting a solid taste of aged oak. The 'tender recommended the Laddie 10, an unpeated Islay which is something that boggled my mind just to hear about. It was perfect and delicious and other than the Hakushu has been dominating by bar ordering in 2012.
Food was exceptional. Light, balanced, intriguing at times, just right at others.
Wine pairings were interesting, well described and healthy.
Service - off the charts if not slightly formal.
All in all this was a meal that quite literally fit the bill. It's not for every day, but I will go back. -
Review from Conrad G.
Manhattan, NY
5/25/2012
I had Lunch here last week with 2 friends that I have not seen in some time , I suggested we eat at Le Bernardin as I have been a huge fan for years but had not eaten there in a while .
After cooking , owning and Managing Michelin star restaurant for the past 20 years i believe the experience i had on this day will change the way i cook and think about food for ever , hands down the best Dining experience i have ever had , Eric and Maggy you guys rock ! -
Review from TinTin N.
Frisco, TX
5/25/2012 1 Check-in Here
SUPER pricey! My favorite dish, the bread & butter! They serve a prefix menu: appetizer, main course then desert. Like most expensive French restaurants, it's good but not worth the price. You are paying for the service, which was impeccable and the nice silverware. I had the fresh oysters, yummy, but you can't go wrong with that. They didn't cook it... The main course that I had chosen was a fish, pretty good, not over cooked. The dessert was a selection of ice cream & sorbet on cubes of cake, which I thought was too sweet.
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Review from Eva W.
5/14/2012
Came here for the birthday. Lifted my spirits from the gloom of turning a year older ;)
Had an early dinner so we had time before going out at night. Starting drinking early with a bottle of white. Opted to go with the prix fixe as I was not too hungry. The bread selection was okay, and the butter was nice and soft.
The trio of amuses that I don't really remember. For appetizers, The peekytoe crab was good, but not great. The special lobster special was cooked really nicely. The charred octopus was nicely done as well. We also had the geoduck clam with wasabi citrus, which was surprisingly good. And I say surprisingly because I've seen youtube vids of the clams, and well..just look them up for yourselves. Not ashamed to say that might have been why we decided to include that in our courses haha. They had a nice chewy texture..
For mains, I quite enjoyed the arctic char and the emulsion was delish. Dining partner had the black bass, which he found disappointing - overcooked and the skin was lacking the "crispy" it has in the name...
I found the black forest dessert underwhelming, though I loved the kriek sorbet. Much preferred dining partner's meringue tart
They brought out a beautifully done passionfruit cake for the birthday.
Service was okay. They weren't that attentive. We had to flag down the bread guy ourselves 10 min after we told the server that we would in fact like more bread.
I enjoyed the experience, but it wasn't spectacular. Maybe we would have had a better experience with the tasting menu..Listed in: Reach for the (Michelin) stars
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Review from Lyn E.
Frisco, TX
5/22/2012 1 Check-in Here
My girlfriend and her husband took me and my husband here for his birthday. Jacket is required for men and we almost didn't go because of this but so glad we went. The staff, service and ambiance is fantastic. Their lunch tasting menu is actually pretty reasonable for $. We left full and very pleased. It was a great experience and we would definitely come back again on our next trip to NYC.
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Review from Catherine C.
Manhattan, NY
5/15/2012
you know, i expected a lot from this place since it's suppose to be essentially the best in ny and possibly the US, but I actually wasn't THATTT blown away. The seafood here was good, but I still feel it's too overpriced for what I thought the whole experience was worth. I really preferred Jean Georges to Le Bernardin, even though a good culinary friend of mine told me Le Bernardin was suppose to be the better of the two.
Perhaps it's because i'm not too big of a fish fan? Although I do loveee lobster and crab.
The appetizer was really good though. I had the barely touched octopus and I really really adored the complimentary baguette with tuna. The main course on the other hand, I don't even remember what I got. It just didn't impress me as much as the appetizers.
The food was good, no doubt, but I think I'm more one for other types of restaurants. Wouldn't mind coming back though to try other things :) -
Review from Bonnie O.
Perfection.
My friend told me that the thing she liked least about Le Bernadin was the fact that she was full by the fourth course. I was not going to let that happen to me! My plan was to have just one teeny bite of each dish so to last the entire night. That proved to be a very difficult agenda.
We went with Chef's tasting menu and wine pairing; may as well let him show us his best! The only change we made was swapping the baked cod for his crispy skin cod. BF heard it featured on "The Best Thing I Ever Ate: Crispy" so we had to try it.
The meal began with Chef's Amuse Bouche, a trio of scrumptious tastings. My single bite plan fell short here. The butternut squash mousse was SO good!
The formal meal consisted of a Wagyu beef with caviar, charred octopus, butter poached lobster, crispy skinned cod, monk fish with Brussels sprouts, Seville orange sorbet and this incredible chocolate-peanut ganache something with salted caramel ice cream. Y U M .
Go there. This was the most extraordinary meal I have ever experienced.
Food - 5 stars
Service - 5 stars
Ambiance - 5 stars
Added nice touch: Jackets are required for men but they will have one available to borrow if you let them know you'll need one when you confirm your reservation. -
Review from Pcp P.
La Cañada Flintridge, CA
5/5/2012 20 photos
It didn't take a lot of convincing for me to add a quick trip to my favorite city. We decided to dine here even though we didn't have a formal jacket for the appropriate attire required by the restaurant. Thank goodness Century 21 is around the corner from our suite. I think the restaurant dserves a solid 4.5 on food and about 3 on dessert.
We had their striped bass, octopus, wild salmon, thinly layered tuna, lobster, black bass, sea scallop, octopus, and maine lobster. The thinly layered tuna was a bit salty for me, but love the striped bass and the sea scallop, especially the scallop. Lobsters appetizer was really fresh and tender. The Octopus was muy muy tasty. It was highly recommended to us and I could see why. The salmon and the maine lobster for the main entree were also excellent, especially the salmon. Yum...
For dessert, we opt for hazelnut-marshmallow, sorbet (mango-thai basil, coconut, mandarin, roasted pineapple), and banana bread with caramel sauce. chocolate mousse, vietnamese cinnamon ice cream. Hm.... I didn't think much of the dessert as they were just okay. A bit disappointed as I was looking forward to them. -
Review from Willy F.
Fresh Meadows, NY
4/25/2012
If you like seafood, apparently this is the place that gives you a hard on when you walk through the doors. Believe me it doesn't happen and it didn't happen to me. Since it was a high class restaurant and I'm a low class guy, I felt it was necessary for me too drive my Toyota instead of public transportation. Here are my opinions of the place.
1. Prefix meals? So its what you want to serve me and not what I want to order? Le Bernardin can't make fish the way I want it, but Burger King can? Guess what? You just lost a star on yelp!
2. Mushroom palate cleaner. Come again? Waiter comes by and drops off a cup of soup. He says "on the house to clean your palate". In my book, anything free is a good thing. Next thing I know, my palate was destroyed. The soup taste like feet. I think anything that is kept in the dark and fed shit shouldn't be a palate cleanser. Guess what you, bastards? Another star off!
3. Cured tuna with a pickle. Yea, that's right too cheap for two pickles. It was actually really good! Could have used another pickle.
The rest of the meal was good. So overall rating is 3 stars. Unlike Michelin, I give my stars out accordingly. Fish heaven? I don't think so. Maybe in between earth and heaven. Someone should give me a TV show instead of Bourdain. That guys says everything is good and he's old as dirt.
Keep it real people!!!! -
Review from Frank Z.
Manhattan, NY
5/9/2012
Like all the other Michelin 3 Stars in NY, this place is extremely popular. You really do have to reserve one month in advance if you want to come here to eat dinner. After failing to reserve this place for 2 months, I was just like "Fuck the dinner, let me just go for lunch."
For our appetizers, we had the Almost Raw Tuna and Barely Touched Octopus. Both of them were extraordinary. I would've never expected that a tuna fish can taste this good. My tuna was pounded so thinly that it literally melts in your mouth but at the same time it doesn't because underneath the tuna rests another thin layer of baguette. What a strange yet amazing combination!
Le Bernardin is one of the best seafood restaurant in the world. And what goes best with seafood? White wine. A cut of my halibut steamed to perfection followed by a sip of wine.. Ah.. This is why I love life...
The only reason I gave it a 4 stars is because we were neglected for maybe 5 minutes after we were seated. Perhaps it's the restaurant's decision to let the customers get accustomed to their environment at first, but I only felt awkwardness when nobody attended me and my date. -
Review from Christine F.
Chicago, IL
4/18/2012 1 Check-in Here
First thing's first, I have the best husband ever.
And second thing's second, Le Bernardin knows a thing or two about fish.
For my birthday, my husband took me to Le Bernardin. This excited me greatly, because I've been wanting to come here for a very, very, very long time. That and I have a crush on Eric Ripert.
Anyway.
I mean, there's not a lot to say that's already been said. This is everything you would expect (and more) from a three star Michelin restaurant. There were waiters attending to your every need, the decor was beautiful and the food was out of this world.
We needed delicious wines, stat. They were both, indeed, delicious. We then got an amuse that was smoked salmon with dill, a tuna tartare that was limey (I think) and some form of a lobster bisque. All three just melted in your mouth. They were so...perfect. Especially the smoked salmon - it was like buttah. We were also offered bread from a choice of six. We also were given butter with salt, which was switched out every few minutes with a new butter dish.
Very fancy.
We did the tasting menu, so we each got 2 apps, a main course and a dessert. I started off with the Lobster poached in butter, spiced celeriac and an Earl Grey Citrus Sauce and the yellowfin tuna that was super rare, served over arugula with a citrus soy ginger dressing.
Out of the park. The sauce the lobster was in was amazing. It was bright, buttery and citrusy. I sopped some of it up with the bread we were given. The salad was delicious as well, but it was also light...which was good. Because there was a serious amount of food coming.
I ordered the Striped Bass as my main, which was baked and cooked with braised daikon, piquillo pepper and adobo sauce. Of course the bass was cooked to perfection - it flaked when you touched it with a fork. The broth, daikon and pepper worked together so harmoniously, which was just incredible. When the flavors merged it was just perfect - it wasn't too heavy and wasn't too light. Wow. My husband got the red snapper and he enjoyed his thoroughly as well.
For dessert, my husband got the chocolate peanut and I got the hazelnut marshmallow. Both were outstanding - the hazelnut marshmallow came with a light chocolate ganache, vanilla marshmallows and hazelnut ice cream. It was like fancy Nutella gone wild. The chocolate peanut tasted like the best candy bar I have ever eaten...there's no other way to describe it.
You think we're done? OH, OH, OH, NO.
The second round of dessert was 4 candies - an earl grey chocolate, a passionfruit gel, a cherry tart bite and a chocolate fig macaron. Amazing. Incredible.
The last dessert was an empty eggshell that was cut in half and filled with layers of a salty chocolate/caramel/pudding-ish/amazeballs concoction. When you dipped your spoon into the bottom of it you came up with layers of deliciousness.
Incredible experience and incredible service. This is a world class restaurant and something folks should try and experience when they are in NY. We did NOT see Eric Ripert, which is probably good because I may have had a mental breakdown in the middle of Le Bernardin.
It was amazing and unforgettable. Bravo! -
Review from Peter B.
Manhattan, NY
4/20/2012
I do significant business entertaining so I am experienced with fine dinning. I had a client dinner for 8 people there and was very disappointed. First, I called and asked if I could bring a special bottle of wine as I would be buying additional bottles. I was told I needed to email the wine department which I did twice and NEVER received a response.
I chose the expanded tasting menu for all eight of us. the service was excellent but the food was only average. After the first few courses everything seem to start to taste the same. Small plate after small plate, different fish similiar sause.
I spent over $6,000 and was very dissatisfied. it may be a beautiful room for a special romantic occasion but I dont see it surviving long term under a costs to value analysis.
Lastly, I found the wine team to be very arrogant and aloof! My wine bill alone was over $4,000 and you would think they were doing me a favor!
I was so excited but would not recommend or ever go again! -
Review from Geoffroy D.
New York, NY
4/25/2012
I am French and love French food. I have to say that I have never experienced French food like this in Paris or Provence or anywhere in France for that matter. Usually French seafood is very simple, either raw or cooked with a light butter sauce... which is great but it doesn't mean you cannot have more interesting things.
This is really French seafood at another level, much more adventurous and sophisticated... Finally French seafood has nothing (or less) to envy Japanese seafood.
I've been there 5 times, and I must say, I am never disappointed by any of the plates. The sommelier is also very helpful and picked a great wine for me last time.
One piece of advice, go there at least once, and just pick you favorite fish/seafood and enjoy it being completely re-invented! -
Review from Diana Y.
it has been talked up and down by many, so i had to try it for myself.
started with raw oysters; scallops-with sweet and sour grapes, evoo & yuzu; tuna- layers of thinly pounded yellowfin tuna, foie gras and toasted baguette, chives & evoo; charred octopus "a la plancha"- green olive & black garlic emulsion, sundried tomato sauce vierge; halibut- steamed halibut "borscht" style, golden beets & horseradish crème frâiche; bread crusted red snapper- saffron "fideos" smoked sweet paprika sauce; the "egg"- milk chocolate pot de creme w/caramel foam, maple syrup, maldon sea salt; caramelized apple with a cinnamon tuile, caramel ice cream, & hazelnuts; yuzu meringue tart- black sesame meringue, yuzu cream, mango-thai basil sorbet.
the best part was the vip'd sea urchin [uni and shellfish] dashi soup in a pumpkin cup. it was amazing. i could have 5 pints of that. *thanks to chef ron who found out my favorite seafood & comp'd this & the champagne :))
overall it was a top 10 in nyc worthy restaurant. but to compare it with the current #10 on san pellegrino's list- the experience is not the same as that of EMP. but still fantastic. -
Review from Jim G.
4/15/2012
I really, really wanted to love Le Bernardin but instead I can only give it a strong like.
I think the experience there is the main reason I did not love Le Bernardin. The food and the service were both solid but when comparing to similar restaurants in New York they just didn't stand out as much as the others. Maybe it was the minimalist decor or the stiff service. It may just be my personal preference but it was not my favorite 3 M star restaurant in the area.
We enjoyed their tasting menu with the wine pairing. All the dishes were good but only one stood above the rest. The gnocchi with geoduck, sea urchin sauce, and a nice topping of caviar, oh and a fat supplemental charge, but oddly worth it.
I think the restaurant is a must try and if I lived in the area I would give it another shot. I'm chalking it up as an overload of so much great food on our trip that eventually you are just spoiled and may be too picky. -
Review from Gregory L.
Silverado, CA
Updated - 5/17/2012
Once again one of the best in the City. This time we had cocktails first at the bar. Excellent excellent excellent bartender and drinks. The food? Oh yes the food is just top notch. How can anyone make fish in such an inventive way? I do not know but I will enjoy it as long as it lasts.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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11/13/2011
We have been here now three times. Everytime we go here it reminds me why I loved it the first time.… Read more »
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Review from Brenda P.
4/12/2012 1 Check-in Here
When a girlfriend gifted me the New York magazine featuring Adam Platt's top 101 NY restaurants (1/2-1/9 2012 issue), I took it as a dare to include as many of them in my upcoming visit as I could (without going bankrupt of course) and see what they were all about. More on that experience as a whole at the end of this review.
CONCLUSION: Outstanding restaurant but I would have had it at # 3 instead of # 2. (and yes, this is nit picking and splitting hairs at this point because they were all spectacular!)
With all the press and notoriety LB gets I expected it to be stuffy and staff to be a little arrogant. It was not the case. Everyone was welcoming, charming, friendly and gasp, casual. Finally made it after getting stuck in the midst of Radio City Music Hall traffic. Nightmare. Make sure to leave ample travel time. Sat somewhere around the middle of the room in the mid height booth (which was surprisingly comfortable). They immediately changed out the gorgeous signature plates (why do they do that? I hate when restaurants do that. I want to eat on the nice plates damn it!) We chose our wine and the prix fixed menu.
The amuse bouche was a trio of salmon, sea orchin and truffle soup. Our table had the octopus, butter lobster and black bass. Compared to Eleven Madison and Per Se, the portions here are bigger and there are no "surprise" supplements to your meal. It's pretty straight forward. You get what you order. End of story. That said and with the exception of my black bass, everything was absolutely delicious. The octopus and lobster were decadent and worthy or a couple of Meg Ryan moans.
The black bass? Well, It.was.just.fish. Cooked to perfection? yes. But, just fish. Nothing exciting about it. Nothing to dream about. Certainly no moans there. It's too bad because the portion was pretty hefty and I hated leaving so much of it. My girlfriend's dover sole though was worthy of a Broadway show...amazing!
I felt the serving style at this height of dining was also a little off. Dishes were served by one, maybe two people (versus one per person). Sauces and dressings were poured for some and others were left waiting for theirs for a bit. The sommelier even almost poured wine from a new bottle unto my unfinished glass from the first bottle thus mixing the two. Again, splitting hairs but I guess it's what you do when comparing apples to apples (or is that truffles to truffles? hmmm)
Before our dessert I ordered a cheese tasting of four. Our waiter came by with the selections (about 9 of them or so?). I would write down what they were but he never did give me that card with the written names I requested. Again, splitting hairs. They were all OK with only one standout. They were served without any honey, fig or specialty bread or crackers. Odd. Just cheese.
Dessert was outstanding (and I am a big dessert snob). I had the Madagascan chocolate with peanut mousse & salted caramel ice cream. Our friends had the banana one which was also great. We also got a small plate with petit fours with our coffees.
To summarize, a couple of service complaints and a bland black bass but everything else was top notch. I would love to give it another try next time I am in New York and compare.
How would the other restaurants on the list fare next to it? Well, if you want to read further, here is my list of the ones visited and I will add the links as I complete the reviews.(the number on the left is the New York Magazine rating out of 101 restaurants listed)
1 Eleven Madison- ta da! I agree!
http://www.yelp.com/bi...
2 Le Bernadin- Should have gone to # 3 I think
3 Per Se
http://www.yelp.com/bi...
5 Craft
http://www.yelp.com/bi...
11 Marea
16 ABC Kitchen (my favorite of them all!)
http://www.yelp.com/bi...
22 The Modern
40 Eataly
Review links coming soon! -
Review from Victor A.
So lately I've been guilty of waiting weeks after going somewhere to actually review it on yelp. La Bernadin definitely warrants an immediate one. It's locating in central between times square and Rockefeller center.
The decor and ambience is very inviting and classy. If there are no reservations you can eat in the lounge which serves the full dining menu. The cocktail menu alone was impressive. I had the Brooklyn bee which was Brooklyn gin with honey and champagne. It was amazing.
We chose to do the prefix menu. La Bernadin specializes in seafood. Oysters, scallops, LANGOSTINA (Best single bite of food in my life!! No exaggeration), crab, lobster and halibut were only some of what we ate. Dessert was just as spectacular as the service and the fact that Eric Ripert was actually there working on a Tuesday night.
A couple of the other things I loved about La Bernadins is that they give you as much bread as you like. That's a choice of 6 different kinds of amazingly baked bread in between every course. Also I've been in 5 star restaurants before where when you mention it's someones birthday to the waiter you get no reaction. Here they brought us a delicious passion fruit dessert with a classy single long white candle and happy birthday written on the plate. Class act all the way. Very accessible fine dining at its best. Bravo! -
Review from Adie B.
New York, NY
5/14/2012
Editing my review.
Food is great but terrible service.
Brought my parents back here for Christmas and they accidentally poured on sauce that my mother is allergic to even though we specifically told them she is allergic to it. They did not change her plate. They just took the old sauce and brought a new one to pour over the old on on the same plate.
Absolutely appalling. -
Review from Derek G.
Marina del Rey, CA
5/16/2012
Amazing. Ended up in NYC on business off and on for about 2 months. Luck would have it I was working out of the same building that houses Le Bernardin. I ate several lunches and dinners here - all amazing. Favorite dish is the tuna under the Almost Raw menu. I crave that dish! Staff is amazing. I ate at the bar solo and thoroughly enjoyed the service and conversation with the bartender. Got to know Ben the maitre d' and he set up an amazing reservation and dining experience for my fiance when she came to visit.
This is as good as it gets when it comes to service and food. Le Bernardin is a "must" for anyone loving good food and is first in my handful of "best" restaurants in America. -
Review from stephanie m.
Walnut Creek, CA
4/18/2012
OK so this is definitely a place that you need to put on your top 10 NY spots to eat. But, I definitely would not go back. Don't take this wrong, the place has a great ambiance and the food is good. The food unfortunately is not great.
We stopped for the night in NY before heading to Spain. Every time we come to the city we have a rule to try the newest or best restaurant in town. This time Le Bernardin was the top of my list. I love seafood and I love French food. We have family in NY so it was the four of us. I guess the reason I wont put it on my list as a must to go back is because I remember what I had and it was delicious, I just cant remember anything anyone else had. We had a family style dinning experience and we kind of shared every ones dishes. I remember not liking anyone else's but really liking mine. Now this is by no means to take away from this wonderful restaurant. I just don't think it stands up to all the hype. The dish that I remember and a must is the "Dover Sole", it was delicious. I guess I just felt the value for value wasnt there.
With that said, a must everyone must try at least once. -
Review from Jessica D.
Winter Park, FL
4/16/2012
I've had the pleasure of dining here twice, and hope to go back many times in my life! My husband and I came here for lunch on our wedding anniversary in 2011, and just last month for my birthday. Our dining experiences were perfection both times.
Since Le Bernardin is arguably the best restaurant in NYC, it is slightly intimidating, but also exciting, when you enter the restaurant. Any intimidation will fly right out the window when you are greeted by their gracious hosts and hostesses. The dining room was recently revamped and totally renovated...and I loved it. The giant mural of crashing waves on the back wall is brilliant. If you weren't sure what you came to Le Bernardin for, the message is clear...order fish. Any fish...it will be beautiful, perfectly represented, and extraordinarily balanced. Culinary perfection.
For our wedding anniversary, we went on a "foodie trip of a lifetime" and dined all over NYC. Le Bernardin was my favorite...and we just went for lunch. I had the tuna with foie gras for my starter and it was so good that I ordered the exact same thing again when we went back for my birthday. I couldn't help myself. It was that good. My husband got the bolognese stuffed calamari for his starter on our first visit, which was absolutely delicious. When we went for my birthday, he went with the barely touched shrimp with foie gras shavings and mushroom salad. It was SO delicious. I truly find it to be *perfect* food...extremely well balanced, perfectly seasoned, well thought out, expertly cooked, and beautifully presented.
Of the entrees we have tried over these two visits, my personal favorites were the red snapper with chorizo broth and the monkfish with brussels sprouts. The red snapper was absolutely divine...the broth was spicy and there was a real kick to it (which I happen to love :D) and I honestly could have ordered that again on our second visit...that is how much I enjoyed it. The monkfish was so delicious as well...I had no expectation for it, and was blown away by how delicious it was. The crispy black bass and the codfish with truffle butter were also just incredible. The desserts are also to die for. They did get a new pastry chef in between our visits, and I did prefer our desserts the first time around, but only slightly. I'm splitting hairs here...it was a perfect culinary experience both times.
Onto the service...the first time we came to Le Bernardin we had the pleasure of being waited on by the funniest, kindest, sweetest, most knowledgeable server. He made our perfect meal even more perfect. The service was excellent on our second visit as well. The wine list is quite intimidating, but extensive. We ended up having a couple of the house cocktails. The Aperol Noir is my favorite!
If you are trying to choose one 3 Michelin star restaurant to dine in while in NYC, I would personally choose Le Bernardin. Granted, I have never been to Per Se...maybe next visit :D. I hope to return to Le Bernardin for dinner someday! -
Review from John N.
Manhattan, NY
3/23/2012 1 Check-in Here
I been wanted to go here FOREVER and finally got my chance yesterday. We got there exactly 12 o'clock so we can be seated at the lounge area because they have a special harvest menu just for $45 and it was a 3 course tastering. Our table decided on drinking beers instead of wine so I choose saison dupont to drink which was extremely refreshing. I decided on the
first course- to be the lobster w/celery roots and mushroom cappuccino.
2nd entree- Strip bass
3rd-chocolate peanut
Everyone else choose something similar or just the opposite dish so we can try everything. The lobster soup was good and very hot in temp which is great because I hate soup that is lukewarm. The strip bass was disappointing and bland. We try and focus ourseleves to finish it but we couldn't. The other entree was alot better (codfish) and has more flavor and a nice sear on the fish. The highlight of the meal has to be the chocolate peanut because it look gorgerous but also tasted very good and I love all of the different texture.
One of my co-worker knew someone in the kitchen so we got a few things comp to us.
We got a extra dish for everyone which was a grouper w/bbq sauce on it and chayoto which was alot better then both of our fish dishes combine. Also they sent out a eggs w/cream and carmel in it which was heavenly and rich. Plus we got a few small mignardise given to us which was tasty but not outstanding. We even got a tour of the kitchen which was awesome seeing the Chef Of Cuisine and the whole kitchen operate.
Why only a 3 star?? Because I totally understand that the harvest menu isn't the staple norm of the restaurant but that is the only thing I can judge on. I didn't really like anything beside the dessert and the items that was sent out which alot better then our meal put together. I really really want to give it more star because judging just for the harvesr menu then I would give it a 3 but w/all of the comp and etc. I move it up to a 3.5 star. Someday I would love to try the tastering menu and re rate this place.Listed in: Michelin Star in NYC
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Review from Hugh M.
Manhattan, NY
5/7/2012
I have eaten there on occaision and after each meal have always asked myself "why"? My wife and I had the dover sole the other evening, which tasted more like fried flounder, with a cloyingly sweet sauce that was, in my opinion, irrelevant. The sole at Grenouille and Artisinal are my "gold standards" and the dish served to us at Bernadin was totally inferior.
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Review from Katie T.
3/31/2012 2 Check-ins Here
I was on a high for a few days after my meal there. The last time I felt that way was after a Prince concert.
I am surprised by myself for saying this: the meal was worth every penny we spent, for the aroma, texture and flavor of the food, the restaurant's decore and ambience, and the staff's service.
Oh, what took away the 5th star was the crowd - a little pretentious. But I guess that's what happens when you are expected to spend over $160/person on dinner.
You gotta try it at least once! -
Review from Yibing Q.
Manhattan, NY
4/8/2012
Oh gosh. This very fine establishment is worth every bit of its 3 Michelin-star crown.
Came here with my friend for her birthday lunch - and we each took its standard prix fixe lunch menu (1 starter, 1 entree and 1 dessert).
I had its Aperol Noir cocktail (aperol, lemon champage, pinot noir and orange bitters) - it immediately catapulted me to cloud nine upon my first sip.
We were so delighted to be served a "starter" to the bread "course" - salmon tartare and thinly sliced baguette. The salmon tartare was very fresh and strangely refreshing!
There was a wide bread selection to choose from - and the bread was of very fine quality! Butter (with sea salt sprinkled over it) was of supreme quality too - they replaced the butter every 15 minutes once it started to melt (how thoughtful)!
Dishes savoured:
Starter - Yellowfin tuna (with foie gras + thin baguette at the bottom)
Entree - Black bass (this bass dish tasted very posh)
Dessert - Chocolate Peanut (so satisfying)
Ended off with Petit Four and coffee - how fine!
Service was immaculate. Decor was classy. A very fine dining experience! -
Review from Arthur Z.
3/12/2012
Like many of the reviewers here, I found my meal at Le Bernardin to be the finest dining experience I have ever...experienced.
This is my first (and probably for a long time, only) 3-Michelin star restaurant experience. The occasion: le girlfriend's birthday. I won't list all the dishes I had, because most of them were simply exquisite, delicious, and elegantly presented; it is difficult to convey the culinary experience in words. But that won't stop me from trying, because I'm a Taurus and we are all stubborn. Instead of detailing everything, I'll give you the highlights of our Chef's Tasting Menu ($190 per person, 8 courses). The menu is available online, but I was pleased to see that they change it up a bit; some courses we got were not listed on the site's menu.
- Charred Octopus "a la plancha" with Green Olive and Black Garlic Emulsion, Sundried Tomato Sauce Vierge: This was the star of the the tasting menu, in both my and my girlfriend's opinion. If you didn't tell me it was octopus, I would have guessed it was octopus-shaped butter - it was that tender. Maybe I should take a star off this review for absolutely raising my octopus standards for future dishes.
- Roasted Monkfish with Brussels Sprouts, Pata Negra Emulsion: I've never had monkfish before, and if I didn't know it was a fish, I could have told you it was a tender pork cut. The fish had an amazing sear on it, yielding a great crisp, and the meat inside felt more like swine than seafood. A truly unique dish.
- Whatever dish we received at the start of our meal compliments of the kitchen: So as per fancy shmancy restaurant customs, you usually get a free amuse bouche-type thing in the beginning and end of the meal. In this case, we started with a trio of yuzu lobster, sea urchin, and a cauliflower foam. The seafood was amazingly tender and sweet, and the foam was savory and airy and a great complement to the previous citrus components.
- Seville Orange Sorbet, Olive Oil and Basil: This pre-dessert dish was extremely interesting because of the contrasting heavy citrus of the orange and the more savory aspects of the oil and basil. A great palate cleanser for dessert proper.
- My girlfriend received a complimentary dessert because I had mentioned when making the reservations that it would be her birthday. The dessert was a passionfruit gelee with coconut foam and a white chocolate square, and it was delicious. I had missed the taste of fresh passionfruit, being spoiled by readily available and cheap ones in Vietnam, and the taste of the gelee was fresh and perfect. The coconut creme served as a great counterpoint to the sour and sweet notes of the gelee.
That being said, I did not like other things as much. While the caviar-wagyu-langoustine trio tasted great, the accompanying vodka creme fraiche was strongly alcoholic...but then again I do not like to drink liquor. The grouper in sofrito broth was perfectly cooked, but I did not particularly enjoy the heat-flavors, which reminded me of Vietnamese beef jerky. Lastly, the dessert tasted too much like Kit-Kat bars to me.
These qualms are trivial compared to the greatness of the other dishes, and of the entire experience in general. The service was attentive and courteous, and the house breads were really good (the olive oil-rosemary one actually tastes like olives!!). Usually when I go to super fancy restaurants, it is courtesy of Restaurant Week, and I try to separate the wow-factor of the fanciness from the actual dining experience. But at Le Bernardin this was not necessary, as my dinner was divine. At $200 a person, this is very pricey for most people, but I surmise that those "most people" would come here for special occasions, which don't come too often. And what better way to celebrate those special occasions than at this great seafood restaurant?
Seriously, that wasn't a rhetorical question. If you know something great, get at me. I NEED IDEAS FOR DATES. -
Review from Valery C.
3/25/2012 13 photos
** 4.5 stars **
Le Bernardin is consistently and universally hailed as one of the best fine dining restaurants in New York City. As a steadfast seafood fan, I hoped for a transcendent food experience in the class of Marea, my favorite fine dining seafood destination, and an overall experience in the class of Per Se, my only other 3-star Michelin meal.
Le Bernardin recently overhauled their decor, and it is handsome and refined. A sea theme pervades the large dining space, subtly in the rippling window shades and twisting silver metal rods, and strikingly in the majestic landscape of foaming sea waves on the back wall. Roomy seats in rich brown leather curve around tables draped in white, some with armrests that can be discreetly folded up. Their staff offer rests that slip between chairs for bags. Flatware and plates continue the sea theme, beautiful and solid. People are dressed well so aside from the jacket required dress code already in place, it is worth your while to be sharply attired.
The staff were exemplary, every person we encountered smooth and courteous, offering seemingly effortless service, with a sure hand and a touch of humor. Soliciting assistance with wine selection from their exhaustive list was not the least intimidating as the captain patiently fielded our preferences. Indeed, despite our limited descriptive vocabulary and experience with wines, she selected a superb white, crisp and full, enjoyed by everyone.
Dinner is offered in one of three ways that effectively cater to most diners: an 8-course chef's tasting for $190, a 8-course tasting for $145, or a 4-course prix fixe for $125 with a dozen seafood choices in each of the first three courses. The latter is an excellent way to dine if you are particular about the type of seafood you want to eat. Both tastings require the participation of all at the table. Our table agreed on the chef's tasting.
I enjoyed most of the dishes enormously, and there were many moments in the early parts of the tasting that were simply divine. The incredibly fresh seafood medley on custard served with dashi, where we speculated on the use of sea urchin shell as container to force the diner to pace their consumption; certainly we would have downed the whole thing much faster without. The tender and smoky charred octopus is comparable to the best I've had, made better by an inspired pairing with earthy and hearty flavors of olives, garlic, and sun dried tomato. Although not seafood, we all loved the creamy, fabulous mouthfeel of wagyu tartare with sweet langoustine and earthy caviar. Likewise, the intensely flavored mushroom broth served in the trio of amuse bouches was loved by everyone.
The first of three fish courses was a delicate, baked cod paired wonderfully with tart artichoke. The second two fish courses, however, introduced the only disappointments to our meal, and they surprised me, if for no other reason than that I didn't expect it. The sauces in these courses were fine, broths and sauces having already been established as a highlight in every dish, no doubt a credit to the rigorous French techniques that went into them. But the fish, grouper and monkfish, were underwhelming in texture and flavor. It may be a personal bias that I don't like grouper, as I've not had this mild-tasting fish before, but I've enjoyed monkfish elsewhere and found it unmemorable here. It may be that both needed more assertive accompaniments and flavors. Whatever it was, no one liked these courses and they are the only reason I don't rate Le Bernardin higher.
A selection of breads was frequently offered, wonderful with their rich butter. I loved both dessert courses; tart Seville orange sorbet paired by fragrant solid state olive oil crumb and basil then followed by a tasting of chocolate, peanut, and caramel treats, very well-made and reminiscent of a dessert course I had at Per Se. One non-chocolate eating companion received an alternate citrus-forward dessert that was excellent. Dinner finished with a quartet of mignardises, pretty, tasty, and a lovely way to end.
I enjoyed dinner at Le Bernardin, where the overall ambience and flawless service set a spectacular stage for the meal, from which the highlights among the food courses ranks up there with the best food moments I've ever had. But it falls shy of 5-star because of two fish courses. I look forward to returning, when I am likely to take the prix fixe route, really priced at a steal for what you get. There is also a beautiful lounge area by the entrance with a relaxed dress code and menu offering a sampling of their food. As for expectations? Per Se was better overall while I find myself still preferring Marea for seafood. -
Review from the asian jedi ..
San Francisco, CA
5/3/2012
this place is amazing. we could not believe the presentation of our first course which has the tuna over foie gras; it was so vibrant and delicious. i also got the octopus and the red snapper for my meal. the food was really good. all the wines selected & assortment of deserts were insane.
service was excellent. highly recommend this place. the staff was so kind and had a sense of humor (i guess you have to if you are dealing with us :) -
Review from Rebecca Y.
Washington, DC
3/10/2012
ABSOLUTE PERFECTION. Food, service, decor, meeting Chef Eric Ripert!!!!
But let's start with the food.
First, we had toasted crisps served with a creamy smoked salmon spread with thinly chopped chives. The smoked salmon spread seemed to just melt in your mouth and it was perfectly smoky.
Then, the servers went around with bread baskets, and you chose which kind of bread you wanted from about 6-8 options. My favorite was the Rosemary and Olive roll. The fresh rosemary and briny salty green olives went perfectly together. They served the bread with a little dish of softened butter topped with a dash of sea salt flakes. Every 10 minutes or so, the waiters would replace your butter dish with another fresh butter dish. Very impressive.
FIRST COURSE (Almost Raw): TUNA: Layers of Thinly Pounded Yellowfin Tuna, Foie Gras and Toasted Baguette Shaved Chives and Extra Virgin Olive Oil: This dish was AMAZING. The tuna was very thin and had a super-delicate texture and just seemed to melt in your mouth. Underneath was a crispy foie gras strip, shaped like bacon. Buttery EVOO and an acidic squeeze of lemon brought this entire dish together. I savored every bite and didn't want to stop eating it! I was sad when I reached my last bite. My favorite course of the meal.
MAIN COURSE (Lightly Cooked): BLACK BASS: Crispy Black Bass; Pickled Cucumbers, Black Garlic-Persian Lime Sauce: The sauce was poured table-side, which was a nice effect. The black bass had a great sear with perfectly crispy skin. Black garlic cloves dotted the plate and they were wonderfully tangy. Pickled cucumbers on the side added just enough acidity to bring the dish together.
DESSERT: GIANDUJA: Milk Chocolate-Hazelnut Mousse, Caramelized Banana, Burnt Honey-Pistachio Ice Cream: Kudos to the pastry chef who concocted this well-composed and tasty dessert. The Burnt Honey-Pistachio Ice cream is a standout. The mousse was light and the banana was perfectly caramelized.
Service was outstanding. This restaurant is run like a tight ship: every waiter has a purpose and a destination. It's like their movements and direction are perfectly choreographed. The silverware and plates are beautiful. Even the bathroom was beautiful, with throwaway napkins with "Le Bernardin" copied on the bottom of each one. Towards the back of the restaurant, there's a great mural of the sea, which reminds you of what this restaurant is all about: seafood. The fish is always center, and you can see it in the way they plate the dishes, the choice of top-notch ingredients to enhance the unique flavor of every piece of seafood, and the choice of preparation.
Favorite line of the meal: After my friend ordered espresso after the meal, the waiter said to me in a heavy French accent: "Any coffee for madam?" Hahaha it just makes me laugh because I have never been called "madam" before.
My happiest moment: Chef Eric Ripert appears from the kitchen and goes from table to table, talking to the diners. By showing up at an off-peak period, Monday lunch, he shows how much he cares about this restaurant, not just as a profit-making machine but as a memorable and enjoyable experience for the diner. I asked my server if my friend and I could get a picture with Chef Ripert. I was preparing myself to be turned down, but he agreed! He thanked us for coming to the restaurant, and I shook his hand and told him what an honor it was to dine here and how much I admired him. We got 2 pictures with him at the front of the restaurant. I was totally ecstatic and over the moon!!!
In my 22 years of life, this is the best meal I have ever had and my best overall dining experience. I am fairly sure that for the rest of my time here on earth, only a handful of meals will EVER come close to/exceed the quality and overall experience of this meal. I hear they do table-side culinary fireworks for birthday dinners. I guess I know where I'm going to celebrate my 23rd birthday... ;) -
Review from Jason G.
There's a reason why some critics have this establishment as the #1 restaurant in the country. The lunch prix fixe was fantastic and well worth it. Every single dish was a solid 5 rating:
+ Layers of Thinly Pounded Yellowfin Tuna, Foie Gras and Toasted Baguette Shaved Chives and Extra Virgin Olive Oil
+ Charred Octopus; Fermented Black Bean-Pear Sauce Vierge, Purple Basil, lInk-Miso Vinaigrette
+ Sautéed Shrimp; Mâche and Wild Mushroom Salad, Shaved Foie Gras, White Balsamic Vinaigrette
+ Bread Crusted Red Snapper; Saffron "Fideos", Chorizo - Smoked Sweet Paprika Sauce
+ Crispy Black Bass; Pickled Cucumbers, Black Garlic-Persian Lemon Sauce
+ Baked Cod; Artichoke "Barigoule", Perigord Truffle Butter
+ Banana bread, Caramel Sauce, Chocolate Mousse, Vietnamese Cinnamon Ice Cream
+ Madagascan Chocolate Ganache, Peanut Mousse, Salted Caramel Ice Cream
+ Chocolate ice cream with cookies
In addition to the food, the restaurant was elegant, immaculate, and beautifully decorated. The ambiance was respectful and light, given the formalness, and not stuffy at all. The service was equally on top of their game. Also did see Chef Eric Ripert but did not have the chance to talk with him.
Best overall dining experience.Listed in: Best NYC Dining
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Review from Nicole L.
2/23/2012
Maybe my expectations were a bit too high, but I must say that I was disappointed with my lunch. Even for double the price, my meal at Per Se won, hands down.
Instead of doing the tasting menu ($190/pp) which contains eight bite sized courses per person, hubby and I decided to share three orders of the pre-fixe lunch. The pre-fixe lunch is $70 for 3 courses. You can choose one dish from either the almost raw or barely touched menu, one dish from the lightly cooked or "upon request" menu, and one from the dessert menu.
Doing 3 orders of the pre-fixe option gave us 3 appetizers, 3 entrees, and 3 desserts to share. This only cost $210 for two, if you don't mind sharing, which is considerably cheaper than the $380 option.
They served us a Salmon Rillette with Toast as an amuse, compliments of the chef. It's a mix of smoked and cooked salmon w/ mayo and lime, etc. This was delicious and I could see why my friend Alex N. raves about it! Also, it's more than an amuse because they did not skimp on the quantity. Boy were they off to a great start!
Too bad it all went downhill from here...
Almost raw
Fluke (Fluke "Sashimi"; Micro Watercress, Avocado, Jalapeño-Lime Broth)
- This was one of the best dishes (which isn't saying much). The flavors were clean, the fish tasted fresh, and wasn't overwhelming. The jalapeno-lime broth was delicious, and we both wished that there was a way to scoop up more of the broth to enjoy, but alas, the plate was very flat and there was no way, even with the spoon.
Barely touched
Peektoe Crab (Warm Crab "Cake"; Tequila Guacamole and Potato Crisps, Aji Pepper-Lime Emulsion)
- I liked this dish, although hubby was not impressed. The crab was hearty, the guacamole gave the dish depth, and emulsion was good, but looked pretty chunky when they were pouring it, which wasn't super visually appealing.
Shrimp (Sautéed Shrimp; Mâche and Wild Mushroom Salad, Shaved Foie Gras, White Balsamic Vinaigrette)
- This was our least favorite dish. The balsamic vinaigrette had no balsamic taste and was all oil. A heavy, nasty tasting oil that covered everything. it ruined the entire dish, which was such a shame, because the shrimp and mushrooms were cooked perfectly.
Lightly cooked
Striped Bass (Poached Striped Bass; Wild Mushrooms and Baby Turnips, Rich Peking Duck Broth)
- Ok... before they have menu items describing their "Rich Peking Duck Broth," they may want to visit China and try out what a rich duck broth is supposed to taste like... Although maybe I'm being too critical, being from Beijing and all. The bass was very well cooked and had a very meaty and hearty texture. The wild mushrooms were flavorless (although it was an interesting texture since it was similar to certain Chinese mushrooms)
Maine Lobster (Baked Lobster; Caramelized Endive-Pear "Terrine", Whiskey-Black Peppercorn Sauce ($15 Supplement))
- The lobster was really not worth it, especially with the supplement price. The pieces of tail were chewy although the claw was very tender and yummy. The sauce wasn't impressive, and I've found out that I don't like the taste of endive (this was the first, and probably the last time I have it).
Red Snapper (Bread Crusted Red Snapper; Saffron "Fideos", Chorizo - Smoked Sweet Paprika Sauce)
- This dish was ok. The bread crust was seared to perfection (super crispy and delicious) and the Chorizo sauce was very aromatic and flavorful but they didn't go well together.
Dessert
Black Forest (Dark Chocolate Cremeux, Kirsch Bavaroise, Belgian Kriek Beer Sorbet )
- Eh... this was the least favorite of our desserts. I'm glad we got the substitution with the banana citrus sorbet, which was the one part of the dessert we finished.
Gianduja (Milk Chocolate-Hazelnut Mousse, Caramelized Banana, Burnt Honey-Pistachio Ice Cream)
- Best part of the desserts (and the entire meal) was the pistachio ice cream. DELICIOUS. I couldn't really taste the hazelnut, but the rest of the dessert was ok.
Black Sesame (Black Sesame Panna Cotta, Sour Cherry Sphere, Mandarin Sorbet)
- Um... the presentation was beautiful... I don't have much to say about this dish.
Overall, for about $300 (after tax and tip) it was a pretty unsatisfactory meal. It's not that any of the dishes were badly cooked, nor improperly executed, but the flavor combinations and profiles just didn't really make an impression.
The service was hit or miss. Some things were good: the water glasses were often refilled, the plate with the lemon wedges was replaced with fresh lemons, etc. The Asian and African American servers were very professional and courteous (too bad I don't know their names).
However, other parts of the service failed. We asked for ice with our water... never happened. Also, while it's nice they replace the butter, the guy just snatches it off the table and bangs down a new container, totally ruining the mood. It was kind of funny to see the sommelier with the gaudy medallion (Thanks for explaining Laura A.)! -
Review from Jay I.
3/17/2012
(It's 4.5 Star because first some of the asian fusion dishes went too much Asian, making me feel like I was having some cheap Asian food. Still, some other dishes were one of the kind. I wish we weren't sick that day. I would have appreciated the food better then.)
This has been a while (November 2010), so I am not going to review on the specific menu (Most dishes were good by the way). Rather I would like to talk about something that might be helpful to some of you.
The day of my visit I proposed to now my wife. I let them know when I made a reservation, and I told them I would propose with my dessert. At the dessert time, they actually brought an extra mini cake with "Will you marry me?" Also, they gave us complimentary glasses of champagne, which was $25 each. So, if your girlfriend loves seafood, this is definitely the place. They know how to take care of business. -
Review from Travis L.
Financial District, NY
5/6/2012 1 Check-in Here
I was a bit worried this was going to be a throw back to 80's dining with tacky decor and over buttery dishes. I was happily proven quite wrong. I can say w/o a shadow of a doubt that Le Bernardin lived up to all the rave. Highly recommend the Chef's tasting menu, spendy but well worth it.
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Review from Liem L.
Portland, ME
5/19/2012
jackets only, i enjoyed it but not that memorable.
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Review from E Buzz M.
Jersey City, NJ
3/29/2012 1 Check-in Here
The highest quality seafood you will ever have.
But as a restaurant, a bit stiff.
I expected a little bit more ambience and warmer service.
Worth the trip just to experience the quality of the food.
Prix fixe
Heitz Cabernet
Amuse bouche
Geoduck
Langoustine
Red snapper sweet paprika sauce
Piña colada desert./double espresso. -
Review from Stan P.
Manhattan, NY
3/2/2012
We went to Le Bernardin the weekend before V-day and had a great experience at Le Bernardin. We were able to get off the waiting list a few days before. We've been to Per Se, French Laundry, Eleven Madison Park, Bouley, Blue Hill at Stone Barn, Gramercy Tavern, etc. and I have got to say that Le Bernardin probably topped them all (yes, even French Laundry! Read on and see why...) I would have given a 5-star review were it not for the at-times confused service, crowded space, and the charge to the egg dessert.
We ordered the special Valentine's Day Menu and the Chef's Tasting menu. At first, the waiter told us we could only order the same menu since it is on a per table basis. However, I informed him that I confirmed with the reservationist several times, both by email and phone, and specifically were told that we could get both. The waiter said he would ask the chef to see if it was possible - 5 minutes later he came back but didn't say anything so I asked and he told me that they would make an exception this time but that the reservationist did not know what she was talking about. (I presumed Le Bernardin changed its policy - I know they used to allow different tasting menus per table, because they probably wanted to turn tables even faster and it is probably much easier to coordinate for the chefs).
I would not review every single dish here but I would say every single dish was pretty good (unlike at other restaurants we've been to, usually one or two courses are bad). The portions of the fish were also very generous. We did not do any substitutions so we got everything off the menu.
The Cons:
The service was slightly lacking - we were served by probably 3-5 different waitstaff and bussers so we did not really know who the main waitstaff was and also none of them really looked at us when serving. It sort of felt hurried and robotic. I understand that Le Bernardin probably wants to turn tables around fast. We did not feel hurried per se but there were lots of rough edges that could be fixed.
The tables were all really close to each other. We did not see the private dining room, which I presume would be less crowded and more intimate. We were offered the private dining room when we made our reservation but we turned it down because we could have only ordered from the same special dining room V-Day menu (which basically added venison to the standard v-day menu).
We knew to order the egg dessert beforehand but thought it was free and ended up paying $12 for two small egg desserts. Yes, the cost of the egg desserts is de minimis compared to the whole cost of the meal, but on principle, it was supposed to be a dessert for the regulars and hence, we felt that we should not have been charged. Eric Ripert is perhaps trying to make money in every way he can!? -
Review from Hillery G.
Sacramento, CA
This place really deserves its reputation. I had the black bass and it was perfect - beautiful and delicious. I also had the pounded tuna - I couldn't beleive how good it was. I will definately visit again when I am back in New York.
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