Le Bernardin

The reservation is a bit hard to get so I snapped a late lunch time. Strict dress code which is fine, love to dress up for special occasions.

The service is definitely top notch. Everyone is so attentive, it’s a bit quiet in the restaurants so not much a vibe, everyone was silent.

We went for the highest tasting menu, since it seems like has the best value and got to taste their best and signature dishes. Lobster and scallop dish are way too salty. the halibut is too dry. My favorite is the Dover sole, perfect balanced flavor. There’s a mix of flavors, It’s very satisfying after the meal, $315 price tag is not too bad for 3 star, definitely worth trying at least once.

Tl;dr unlimited bread, great seafood, great service, strict dress code.

Came here to celebrate an anniversary, and had a fantastic experience. The food was fantastic, it came out promptly, and tasted amazing. The service was also great, and we never ran out of water/bread/drinks. We had the chef’s tasting menu with an addition of the mushroom pasta and it was very filling. The dress code is pretty strict, but you get an email reminder, and clear instructions.

I have been wanting to go to this restaurant for years, and I finally got to do so recently and I must say that the restaurant more than exceeded my expectations. The staff was thoughtful, friendly, Kind; the coat check was amazing. The server was sweet and helpful. Everything about the entire place was great. I loved the drinks. The food was mouthwatering. It’s worth it. Please go.

Went for the tasting menu with the wine pairing. The wine pairing and the desserts are definitely the highlights of the meal. Out of the seafood dishes, we enjoyed the salmon-caviar (p5) the most. Service is also excellent!
Overall, what made this a 4-star review is the fact that comparatively speaking (to other Michelin starred restaurants), the presentation, ambience, and portion are bit lacking. It’s not quite the most unique nor luxurious gastronomical experience among restaurants in the same star-level given the price. (For tourists to NYC, it is at a very convenient location, if that’s a factor in your decision.)

I had high expectations for this restaurant.

Pros:

The appetizers were very tasty, my favourite was the complimentary soup. The portions were just right.

I liked that you have different options for your dinner. It was kinda like a set menu but you have the freedom to choose different dishes for your meal.

The flavours were good for some of the dishes, I felt like they were trying to play with different cuisines. It was not only French but a little bit of Asian, for example the shrimps with coconut sauce. A bit of Caribbean with the fruits added to the dessert.

Cons:

Although the service was good I felt rushed because you have to decide all your options at the beginning of your meal with the little time provided.

They served bread but it’s cold.

Some of the dishes tasted good but it wasn’t like wow either.

Some of the desserts were an interesting take on Asian styled desserts. But the balance of sweet and sour was off as the dessert was sour.

The linen on the table is old and worn out. It was not comfortable to touch nor look at as there were lint all over the middle of the table. Being a high end restaurant, we were expecting a lot more for attention to details.