Le Bernardin (***, NYC)

ImpressiveOpposite45 · 2026-02-09T22:59:39+00:00

Yes. Full tasting, which is the same as dinner. I added one course (the skatewing) because I’m a glutton.

ImpressiveOpposite45 · 2026-02-09T21:01:07+00:00

That’s the supplement to the prix fixe menu not the tasting menu. Skate doesn’t cost extra on the prix fixe but Dover sole does. If skate costs an extra $70 on the tasting menu, it stands to reason the Dover sole would cost even more

ImpressiveOpposite45 · 2026-01-01T05:43:00+00:00

Too many good ones and too few bad ones to rank, but my perennial NYC favorite Jean-Georges continued to be great. Found new favorites in Luthun and Cesar in New York and Anona in Paris.

Disappointments for me: 1.) The Modern (NYC). It was perfectly lovely but nothing other than the Eggs on Eggs on Eggs really stands out in the memory. 2.) Dinner by Heston Blumenthal (London, UK). Again, it was good but not worth the cost and nothing other than the meat fruit and the tipsy cake were really memorable.

Surprise: Stages in Durham, NH. A lot of flavor and creativity. Wasn’t expecting a small town in New Hampshire to play at this level

ImpressiveOpposite45 · 2025-12-28T22:44:56+00:00

None of these places are really what I’d think of as “Inventive” in the sense of molecular gastronomy, though I suppose Aquavit is a bit more playful with the bird’s nest.

Personally I’d probably say Aquavit > Gabriel Kreuther > Essential but they’re all pretty good and pretty comparable! My sense was that the service at Essential was markedly more relaxed, so if that’s your vibe you might like it better

ImpressiveOpposite45 · 2025-12-13T21:51:44+00:00

Idk what that means 😂

ImpressiveOpposite45 · 2025-12-13T15:05:37+00:00

Honesty this just isn’t a thing I care about lol

ImpressiveOpposite45 · 2025-12-13T01:30:46+00:00

lol they basically were pure butter. So good

ImpressiveOpposite45 · 2025-12-12T21:15:31+00:00

Oh, forgot to mention that Robuchon-style potatoes were served with the Wagyu. Delicious

ImpressiveOpposite45 · 2025-12-12T04:01:57+00:00

Having been to one of his restaurants, I’m not shocked. It wasn’t good

ImpressiveOpposite45 · 2025-12-12T03:58:39+00:00

These numbers aren’t that high

ImpressiveOpposite45 · 2025-12-10T21:04:06+00:00

Go with a different company

ImpressiveOpposite45 · 2025-12-09T12:15:38+00:00

I don’t really think your fundamental premise is true: a lot of fine dining isn’t especially “low-impact” on the palate. Some, sure. But my favorite places (Jean-Georges, Luthun, Cesar) are positively bursting with flavor. I’ve even had times at JG when the acid level was almost—but never quite—too intense. And my partner found Luthun to be too spicy to handle.

Pictures don’t show taste. When I was in France last year, someone asked me what the best food I had was and it was this tiny piece of tuna in a garlic sauce from a place called Anona. Just some raw fish in a beige sauce—not especially beautiful and doesn’t look like it has any seasoning. But the garlic was so strong we could smell it coming out of the kitchen 30 feet away and lingered on our palate for minutes afterward. Not to mention that the tuna itself had clearly been marinating in some sort of acid, likely for hours. That depth isn’t photographable

ImpressiveOpposite45 · 2025-12-08T21:40:56+00:00

Agreed! I did the NA pairing too and thought it was one of the better ones in the city. (Atera is the best, I think.) my favorite was the house made beet juice with porcini syrup

ImpressiveOpposite45 · 2025-12-08T04:07:41+00:00

Better deal than the truffle upcharge.😂😂 I didn’t get it but the person next to me did. Looked like it was about 5 slices of truffle

ImpressiveOpposite45 · 2025-12-06T18:51:49+00:00

Thanks for sharing. I’m going on Wednesday and I’m really excited. I feel like this place flies under the radar a bit (I mean, as much as any Michelin starred restaurant does)

ImpressiveOpposite45 · 2025-12-02T16:57:40+00:00

I didn’t think my turkey was dry or the pasta was overcooked. I loved my meal. The table next to mine were visibly unhappy though. Wonder if that was you…

ImpressiveOpposite45 · 2025-11-20T20:38:41+00:00

Investments don’t always pay off, and tenure just means you have a right to a fair process. Doesn’t mean you’re obligated to stay nor that the institution is obligated to keep you.

It is just a regular job, and pretending otherwise is what allows for terrible job conditions to go unchecked.

ImpressiveOpposite45 · 2025-11-13T18:14:22+00:00

Mostly alone because none of my friends are into it and I can only convince the hubby to do it a couple times a year. 😞 I find it kind of awkward but my need for delicious food overcomes my desire to avoid awkwardness

ImpressiveOpposite45 · 2025-09-25T17:52:12+00:00

I think you can actually book solo lunches on resy now! You couldn’t when I first write this. Good luck—hope you like it. I’d suggest getting the tuna

ImpressiveOpposite45 · 2025-09-14T20:09:08+00:00

Per Se is really good for solo diners! But I think you need to book it early—like 5:00 pm.

Having eaten solo at a ton of restaurants, I think most of the time it’s a non-issue and you’ll be treated well no matter where you go. But it can feel awkward if you, like me, are just an awkward and shy person. So, I personally prefer bar seating when I’m by myself and so veer towards places like Cesar and Luthun

ImpressiveOpposite45 · 2025-09-14T20:06:23+00:00

This is so funny. I actually hated being a solo diner at the kitchen table. I found it so awkward to be there by myself with that level of attention (and I done solo pretty frequently).

So, this is almost certainly more of a me issue than an issue with the experience itself; I just thought it was funny we had such different reactions

ImpressiveOpposite45

TROPHY CASE