Dreams do come true. I had been dreaming about dining at Le Bernardin for years, and that dream came to fruition on Martin Luther King Day, when a foodie friend of mine wanted a fabulous lunch. I chose Eric Ripert's 4-star restaurant, and it lived up to expectations.
This is 4-star dining at its best, from sleek service, to fabulous seafood fare, you won't be disappointed. The $70 3-course lunch is not cheap, but you get what you pay for.
Every table gets a bowl of salmon salad with toasted points, and it is one excellent salmon salad.
My appetizer of layers of thinly pounded yellowfin tuna with foie gras, toasted baguette, shaved chives, and extra virgin olive oil was exquisite and great. I will say that I did not taste any foie gras in the dish, it seemed to be lacking, nonetheless, I still enjoyed this dish immensely.
Sautéed calamari filled with sweet prawns and shitake mushrooms, with a mushroom froth-pistou sauce was unique, perfectly executed, and wonderful. I had never encountered calamari prepared like this.
My hiramasa entree, seared yellowtail king fish, with truffle risotto, Spring vegetables, and a black truffle emulsion was out of this world! Definitely one of the best fish dishes I had ever consumed, quite possibly the best. The truffle emulsion was truly orgasmic, and the fish was like butter, melting away in my mouth. I almost teared after each bite. I loved this dish!
A pre-dessert of an egg shell with chocolate was fabulous. A complimentary shell of joy.
Desserts at Le Bernardin are top notch as well. Hazelnut; Gianduja cream, Oregon hazelnuts, honey, banana, and brown butter ice cream was fabulous. Chocolate-Peanut; dark chocolate, peanut and caramel tart, Meyer lemon puree, peanut powder, and praline-citrus sorbet was really good too.
So for 4-star dining at its best, Le Bernardin is a true winner. Go for lunch, or go for dinner, and let the cooking of Eric Ripert transport you to a seafood world, yet undiscovered.
Le Bernardin
155 W. 51st Street (bet. 6th and 7th)
New York, NY 10019
212-554-1515