Friday, January 25, 2008

LE BERNADIN RESTAURANT - NEW YORK CITY


Le Bernardin
155 W. 51st Street

After careful research we decided to make a reservation months in advance for Le Bernardin.
This is rated and voted New Yorks #1 restaurant on most of the top 10 lists for New York. The restaurant has received rave reviews year after year and is only one of a handful of places that has received the coveted Michelen 3 Star Award. This is the highest rating for restaurants in the world. Everytime we did our research for the "best", Le Bernardin was a the top of the list in food and service.  Per the rules, I dolled up in a suit and tie and got pumped up for a great experience and meal.
The menu here is pre-fix. You get two appetizers and one main course for a little over $100 per person. There is also a chef tasting menu for $180 per person. Add a wine pairing to your meal and it is $320 per person. For this much dough, you would think that you would be in heaven.
Well, it was the exact opposite. Dish after dish was bland, cold and tiny. The portions of each course is so small. If the menu says shrimp, you get one shrimp with some sauce. All of the dishes are seafood here. By the third course you want some meat and some red wine rather than five glasses of white wine. When dessert came we were still hungry, but not hungry enough to finish the rather bland dessert. The service is top notch and they were very nice. I think Keli did best. We ordered pasta with shrimp which was not on the menu. Our waiter had the kitchen make it special for here. This was quite possibly the best dish of the night. At $35 it was a bargain compared to our expensive meal.
This is by far the most we have ever paid for a dinner. I would never ever do it again. If you go to Le Bernardin, make sure you are not picking up the tab. Total disappointment here in the food. The staff however was very friendly and accommodating.






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