Essential by Christophe
New York
W skrócie
Recenzje
Essential by Christophe is a classic French fine dining spot with nods to Robuchon (where Chef Bellanca previously worked) including the signature dishes of mushroom cappuccino and mashed potato. The French cooking style results in a procession of soft proteins in buttery sauces with global accents such as turmeric and omija berry. The experience is the definition of fancy: a modern and elegant dining room (sans the white tablecloths) staffed by highly attentive folks who will take care of your every need. Personally, I found the tasting menu monotonous. There was nothing wrong with any individual dish, but taken as a whole it was just a terribly constructed tasting menu. It lacked variety; it lacked ups and downs; it lacked any sense of progression. The mushroom cappuccino was a great “welcome drink”, warm and thick and comforting with the mushroom and sweet potato. But then it went into the uni dish that felt twice as big as it should be. I was starting to get disgusted halfway in as it was just a bowl of goo. The pickled radishes didn’t save it. I wished the bread had arrived then. The langoustine was bursting with its natural sweetness, the mild green curry taking a backseat so the langoustine could shine, but again the entire dish was soft, the pasta having zero bite. I was so glad to have the bread then—really deliciously fluffy and crispy. The following scallop dish was a highlight, the nutty sauce and smoky aroma beautifully balancing the scallop’s sweetness, but by that point I couldn’t enjoy it to its fullest because of all the dishes leading up to that point. I grew tired of it. The black bass didn’t help, as it was softly poached and served with fork-tender artichokes, though the turmeric sauce was deliciously fragrant. The pork was likewise thinly sliced and tender, served in a tasty fruity jus. The mashed potatoes of course required zero chewing. At this point I wanted something else other than baby food. The desserts tasted especially delicious because they provided the burst of acidity lacking from the rest of the meal. Also, the meringue shell of the vacherin finally provided something interesting to chew on. If it weren’t obvious already, I desperately wished I had something to chew on throughout the meal besides the mind-blowingly delicious crispy and crusty bread—or did the bread taste extra delicious precisely because everything else lacked texture? As someone who highly values variety of texture, the cooking here’s the antithesis of my preferences, but I sort of expected that going into a French spot. The flavors were fine; the textures were not. Objectively, this spot is great for people who judge food by how it melts in their mouth and the abundance of butter. And the dining experience itself was nice. But if you’re like me, this isn’t the spot for you.
Wow, Essential by Christophe was truly one of the best experiences I have had at a restaurant in the city! Every detail was made with intention and care. I truly fell in love with the atmosphere, service and the delicious cuisine. I sat at the bar and Crystal was my bartender. Her knowledge of the menu was top tier. Her and Mario guided me through the menu. Their service was catered to me and my desires, they wanted to know what I was looking for and they gave me just that. Crystal was so attentive, kind and intuitive. I felt so taken care of. Now for the food: The scallops were lightly roasted to perfection and topped with delicate caviar. The bed of sauce the scallops were submerged in was so delectable that I used the sauce for the fresh bread I ordered on the side. Now for the main event: The Lobster Pasta. The lobster was fresh and cooked with accuracy. As a seafood lover, the quality was undeniable! The pasta was the perfect texture and so was the sauce. The Parmesan foam glazed over the dish was a super unique twist. And I can’t forget the Soufflé that sent me to heaven! Light, fluffy, warm and sweet. Just what I needed to end the night. There were so many surprises and each one made me feel so special. My mind was blown and I had to write this review because I can’t stop thinking about it. Thank you Christophe for creating magic in the city! From the moment I walked through the door, I felt Essential. What a memorable night, thank you.
My husband and I booked a private dining room at this restaurant to celebrate our marriage with friends. While I will give credit where it’s due—the food itself and the service we got were good—the overall experience was deeply marred by sneaky pricing tactics and unacceptable billing incompetence. 1. Deceptive Water Upselling: At the beginning of the dinner, the waiter asked me and my husband if we wanted "still or sparkling water," completely omitting the option of tap water. Confused, I assumed "still" meant tap water. It wasn’t until I looked at the receipt the next day that I realized we were charged a staggering $150 just for still water. We have dined at numerous Michelin-starred restaurants in NYC, including three-star, and never has a restaurant hidden the tap water option like this. It felt incredibly cheap and deceptive. 2. Major Billing Error and Subpar Customer Service: A month prior to the event, I provided my credit card information and paid a $1,500 deposit. However, looking at the final receipt and my credit card statement, I noticed they charged me the full event total of $5,300 on top of the deposit. When I emailed the manager to ask about the $1,500 refund, I was told the deposit was "non-refundable and already applied to the total." after a day. Knowing the math was completely wrong, I called the manager. During the call, I had to explain three times that we were overcharged, but the manager repeatedly dismissed my concerns, insisting the receipt was final. It wasn't until the fourth time I pushed back that she finally agreed to actually look at the receipt and said she needed to check with her own manager. An hour later, they finally admitted they made a mistake. All I received was a breezy "please excuse us for the error." What if I hadn't meticulously checked my bank statements? This blatant lack of attention to detail and the defensive attitude of the staff created a lot of unnecessary stress and work for me. A Michelin-starred restaurant should present flawless execution, not only on the plate but also in their service and financial integrity. Sadly, they failed on the latter. I cannot recommend this place for a hassle-free special occasion. ——————————————— Follow-up: The director of operations reached out to me to apologize for their mistake and invited me to visit the restaurant again. I accept the apology and am glad to see that management values feedback and cares about their guests' experience.
I’ve celebrated so many special moments here my birthday, our anniversary, and even my partner’s birthday. The atmosphere is always amazing, and the food is absolutely delicious. This place holds such great memories for me, and I’ll definitely comeback again.
9.30.2025 i celebrated my birthday here with mom & i can say with full confidence that this is the best meal ive had this year. comparing to other michelin french fine dining establishments, i would pick this as my top 1 for overall hospitality, food and price point. essential offers a truly unique seafood-focused menu with every course being as memorable or even better than the last. the flavor combinations are rich, perfectly well-balanced & all-around luxurious. dont underestimate the simple presentations because the taste will blow you away. alfonso was our server—he was AMAZING! very attentive & made my night feel extra special with personal touches, check-ins throughout the meal as well as assisting me with my annoying vlog/photo sessions. cant forget to mention that the dining room is extremely gorgeous with its warm yellow hues, flowers & intimate table settings—perfect for date night. im already looking forward to revisiting & telling all my friends about it. simply exceeded all my expectations—wont be surprised to see essential gain another star soon. thank you so much team!
