Le Bernardin is one of New York’s iconic 3 Michelin Star restaurants so I was very pleased to have the opportunity to review it as part of the Cathay New Year Deal trip.
I’ve had the pleasure of dining at Le Bernardin in May 2018 and more recently in October 2019 with the seafood being outstanding on both occasions.
Upon arrival, you are escorted to your table by a member of staff and a hot towel is presented. The restaurant is quiet and understated, a world away from the frenetic pace of Midtown.
You are then presented with the menu and a waiter runs you through the options. I went with the 3 course lunch Prix Fixe option. A sommelier also stops by the table to see if you would like to order wine.
Being located in Midtown, the lunch crowd was a good mix of business lunches, celebrations and tourists like me. Importantly all respected the dress code which requires men to wear a suit or blazer.
In this post:
Le Bernardin Lunch Review
The menu at Le Bernardin is almost exclusively seafood, which is perfect for me!
I really enjoyed the scallop starter and lobster main on my visit last year, but wanted to try new dishes this time around.
The Baked Lobster; Squash Manicotti Shrimp-Black Pepper-Brandy Sauce caught my eye for the starter and the Seared Hiramasa; Baby Shrimp, Calamari, Lemongrass-infused bouillon as my main.
Once your order has been taken, the amuse bouche arrives: Salmon Rillettes. It’s a delicious combination of poached, fresh and smoked salmon along with lemon juice and a few other ingredients.
The serve for one is extremely generous and you have you heap generous amounts of salmon onto each of the five crackers to have any hope of finishing it all.
Another waiter appears around this time and offers a selection of bread with quality butter, which I clearly enjoyed so much that I forgot to get a photo.
Baked Lobster; Squash Manicotti Shrimp-Black Pepper-Brandy Sauce
The lobster starter was simple but stunning. True to its ‘Barely Touched’ listing in the menu, the lobster itself was incredibly sweet and the pepper sauce so subtle you only tasted it at the end of the mouthful. The squash manicotti served to reset the palate so on your next bite of the lobster your tastebuds experienced the full flavour.
The effect was similar to that of the polenta that was served with the lobster main last year.
Seared Hiramasa; Baby Shrimp, Calamari, Lemongrass-infused bouillon
The main course was excellent too, with the Hiramasa kingfish seared on the top and barely touched below. The dish has an Asian flavour to it with the lemongrass bouillon and the mushrooms, greens and prawns adding contrast to the dish.
Hiramasa kingfish is sashimi-grade and this example was full of flavour. I loved the textural contrast between the crispy seared top and almost raw remainder of each slice.
Golden Hazelnut Sphere, Frangelico Mousse and Praline Ice Cream
Le Bernardin offers an extensive dessert menu with eight options, all of which looked great. I’ve previously had the visually stunning apple so ordered the hazelnut sphere.
As you can see, the golden hazelnut sphere is also visually stunning and reminded me of a gourmet Ferrero Rocher!
A complimentary cake, which Max might know the name of, was delivered with my pot of tea. It was beautifully browned on the outside and slightly crunchy whilst the filling was moist and sweet. Fantastic!
Now onto the main event. The chocolate sphere was deliciously chocolatey and the dish has plenty of texture and crunch thanks to the accompanying cast of ice cream and whole hazelnuts.
How Much Does It Cost To Dine At Le Bernardin?
Lunch at Le Bernardin starts at US$93 for the 3 course Prix Fixe menu and dinner at US$165 for the 4 course Prix Fixe menu. The Chef’s Tasting menu comes in at US$228 for 8 courses (US$373 with wine pairing).
Water, tea and coffee are additional charges, along with drinks.
Le Bernardin Is 8 Minutes Walk From Hamilton
My next stop after my exceptional lunch at Le Bernardin was to see the musical Hamilton, about the life of American Founding Father Alexander Hamilton.
It’s playing at the Richard Rodgers Theatre at 226 W 46th St so is a very convenient 8 minute walk away.
Le Bernardin Review Summary
Le Bernardin delivers on its reputation as one of New York’s great restaurants. As a seafood lover, the menu is a dream and the staff round out the experience by delivering polished service.
I look forward to returning on future trips to New York.
Introduction – The Cathay Pacific New Year Deal Trip
Review: Singapore Airlines Silver Kris Lounge Sydney Business Class
Review: Singapore Airlines Business Class 77W
Review: Silk Air Business Class 737-800
Review: Four Points By Sheraton Danang
Review: CIP Orchid Lounge Danang
Review: Cathay Dragon Economy Class A320
Review: The Pier First Class Lounge
Review: Cathay Pacific First Class 77W
Review: Fairfield Inn Manhattan Downtown East
Review: Blue Hill At Stone Barns
Review: Le Bernardin
New York Activities
Review: TWA Flight Centre
Review: AA Flagship First Dining JFK
Review: Cathay Pacific First Class 77W (via Vancouver)
Review: Hyatt Centric Victoria Harbour
Review: The Pier Business Class Lounge
Review: Qantas Business Class 787
Summary – Highlights & Points Earned
What a great read! Lunch menus in started restaurants are nearly always good value!
Also I believe that the little cake they served with the tea is a cannelé, a lovely little treat traditionally from Bordeaux.