NYC FOODIE QUICK BITE: LE BERNARDIN

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.

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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.

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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.

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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!

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A pre-dessert of an egg shell with chocolate was fabulous. A complimentary shell of joy.

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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.

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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

www.le-bernardin.com