Exceptional experience and exceptional food. We were immediately greeted on a rainy day by the pleasant hostess that didn't skip a beat in taking our coats and confirming our reservations. The restaurant itself was very inviting and played a variety of music to include "neo-soul," which enhanced one's general enjoyment of the evening if that's your style. The staff was attentive and informative in explaining the options available for service and drinks. The professional pictures capture the selections way better than the phone pics we were able to take, but don't doubt all is as seen. The pace of dining was well monitored and not overwhelming. We ordered the 7-course meal which did offer options not on the published menu which was appreciated. So, the takeaway is to ask if you see something you might not be keen on enjoying. Overall, a great eating experience and something one should consider in fine dining. read more

I'd say the most amazing meal experiences I've ever had! 7 courses of perfection. If you come to this amazing city, you're time isn't complete until you've need to Essential by Christophe. Mike was great! Thank you for the evening!! read more

This is a great restaruant led with good food and service. Lucas was attentive and so was rest of the staff. Food was a good amount and 7 course is filing. Our favorites was the wagyu(forgot to take a pic). Interior was decorated well read more

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My wife and I were able to secure a same-day reservation here a couple of weeks ago. We chose the prix fixe menu with the standard wine pairings. Our server, Michael, could not have been more accommodating and engaging. The perfect intensity of the sauces - with the Squab, Langoustine, Scallops, to name just a few of our dishes - was terrific. I've never had better. The wine pairings were also perfectly matched. We have family on the upper west side and will certainly look forward to a return visit. read more

Food: 2/2 Service: 1/1 Atmosphere: 0.5/1 Value: 1/1 Total: 4.5/5 Food: We got the 7 course tasting menu for our wedding anniversary and enjoyed every single bite! Favorites were the sea scallop w/caviar, wagyu & the langoustine. I liked that the menu was accessible in the sense that you weren't forced to get the tasting menu - I saw many people opt for the 3 or 4-course prix fixe, but you can also order dishes a la carte. The dishes were so delicious - we cleaned up every course! We found the tasting menu proportions very filling. Service: The service was phenomenal and what you'd expect for a Michelin star restaurant. Atmosphere: I knocked a half star for this because the tables are relatively close together - would've loved if they were just a bit further apart. We luckily got placed in a booth which was more private and separated from other parties. There was also music playing (a mix of holiday classics & classic bops). We didn't mind and enjoyed it, but just an FYI for those anticipating an intimate and quiet environment. I also wish there was an option for a chefs table reservation, similar to what some other Michelin restaurants offer. I love seeing the process of the chefs making & plating the food! Value: about ~$30 for each dish, which is what we expect for this restaurant caliber. The dishes and flavors were also unique enough that I felt like it was worth it. read more

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Tried 4 course and it was good but was not particularly memorable experience. It took about 20 to 30 min between first and second course. I was very hungry and kept nibbling bread and was probably full by the time 2nd dish came out. Not the desired experience for the 1 star experience and the price tag. Rouget Barbet with bouillabaisse reduction - Fish was perfectly cooked and the bouillabaisse reduction was really amazing. It was reduced to the point where I could taste a basket of seafood in a tea spoon. However, it was maybe bit too overpowering and didn't feel like it was complementing Rouget Barbet. Squab de Racan - I went adventurous and tried it. It was very tender but for my taste it was bit undercooked. Orange condiment and sauce was complementing as expected but farce a gratin didn't go well with tender squab flavor and texture wise. I haven't tried poultry at a fine dining restaurant so maybe I need to take time to appreciate it. And PLEASE do not put on a strong cologne when you visit restaurant. I know cologne is part of dressing up but it not needed for fine dining or any restaurant. Staffs were kind enough to move us to different table but please don't let stupid people ruin other's experience. read more

Love this restaurant! This one Michelin star restaurant offers 3-course, 4-course, and 7-course options. I tried the 4-course one for my birthday, and it was amazing. The course meals are priced well. The quality of food here is incredible. Love every dish here and especially the sea urchin with caviar, scallop, and wagyu beef cap. Also, this mushroom cappuccino complimentary small dish is so good, and definitely one of my favorites. The cocktails are great complements to the meal. Enjoyed this meal very much. The staff are all very attentive. Constantly checked on us and also folded the napkins very timely whenever one of us is away from the table. You can expect quality service and food here. Ambiance is amazing with a great modern design for the interior. read more

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We stopped in here for a snack. I bit extra, I agree, but it was super delicious! We just grabbed seats at the bar and had a couple glasses of wine. We also ordered the prawns and octopus. Everything was so beautiful and delicious. I only took the one photo. There was also a super lovely and delicious amuse bouche and the pic the below, I can't remember if we ordered it as a dessert or if it was just a little send off from our super fantastic bar tender, Jose. Jose was so lovely to chat with! Cannot recommend this place enough. read more

Essential by Christophe - French Near Me - New York, New York

Absolutely a most spectacular gastronomical journey. Started out with a Rosalita YUM. Tuna tartare clean and refreshing. Scallop - unreal in its delicate unctuousness, with a very generous topping of caviar indeed. Rouget was lovely. Squab and frog legs to DIE for - I could bathe in the frog legs garlic sauce. The burger is so yummy - and a gorgeous salad wedge on the side. And of course the Robouchon pommes purées!! The service was so warm and wonderful. And we got to meet Chef Christophe! What a lovely man. Everything here is cooked with love. read more

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Got the 3-course meal with wine pairing. What an amazing job their sommelier has done. I'm not a fan of foie gras but my wife is. I was blown away by the creativity of the wine pairing with the foie gras. My favorite dishes were the scallops and wagyu. Blue fin tuna and wine pairing was zesty and deserves an honorable mention. The desserts at the end... wow! Great service here from Dan! Don't shave that mustache... read more

This restaurant is good, but not good enough to charge three dollars less than Le Bernardin for a four-course meal. It's last price increase has pushed over the boundaries of what I find acceptable given its food, ambience and location. Consequently I have had my last meal at Essential by Christophe. read more

This is a very overdue review. We had the four-course tasting menu and enjoyed every course. The service was great and the ambiance was relaxed. We will go back to order a La carte at the bar to try different things. read more

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What a hidden gem with a great à la carte menu while dining at the bar. Hard to beat in a neighborhood without many high quality options

What a unique and special experience. The chef considers every aspect of fine dining at his Michelin rated restaurant. Service is impeccable, quiet upscale dining with a variety of exquisite tasting food , beautiful dishes and a variety of wine to choose from with a sommelier. We wanted our children to experience a top French restaurant with a tasting menu. We enjoyed the seven course "essential menu." Dined on so many tasty dishes. Absolutely my favorite was the wagyu. Best thing I have ever tasted. It's extremely pricey so save this for something very special if cost is a factor. read more

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This is-surprsingly to me-a 1 star Michelin "french" restaurant. I guess it is technically "contemporary french," which is applying french cooking techniques to Asian and other flavors. I was truly shocked this place received a star or any recognition from Michelin. It was a thoroughly mediocre experience. The space and atmosphere isn't stuffy, which is a plus, but the service while very friendly is uneven to the point of absurdity (not to say the least of the one staff member appeared to be asking a woman sitting near me for her number and to get drinks "next time she's in NYC" - seriously what a low class move). The menu was poorly explained. It was unclear if there were any standouts (or must trys). And when I asked how long the various tasting menus (everything is prix fixe) would take because I had to leave by a certain time to make a show, I got a weird "well depends how fast you eat" - a totally odd response because I've done multi-course meals and the rapidity at which I eat has never correlated to how the courses come out. In any event, my primary server and bus person were very nice but several levels short of outstanding (including not remembering what I ordered as a first course and getting my dessert wrong-not a big deal but not commensurate with the cost or rating) As to the food, it was "meh." I am sure there was a lot of impressive technique poured into each prep but apart from the bread, fois grass, and scallop, most courses were not memorable. The wild turbot course was truly terrible. It was a waste of truffles and the endive was by far the best part (and it wasnt caramelized either despite the menu's claim). I understand this is a very expensice fish and supoosedly pairs well with sauces, but it tasted like a bland flaky white fish--basically a fancy flounder. Was it worth getting fancy floudner? Nah. As for the final beef course, the sauce was badly oversalted. I couldn't recommend this place at this price point. Not worth it at all. read more

My boyfriend and I each ordered the essential menu. I had to order substitutions for the sea urchin and the langoustine due to crustacean allergy. I ordered the hamachi and the octopus instead. For cocktails, we ordered the Gene Sais Pais, Helicopter, Rosalita and Harvest Highball. Our Favorite is hands down the Harvest Highball! Then for his Rosali and for mine Helicopter. We would say the foods were on the creamy, rich, heavy and salty side, which is what you would get from a French restaurant. The service was excellent. They come and clean the table every so often, refill your water bottle and fold your napkin when leaving the table. The ambiance in here is a modern cozy home like vibes. You won't be disappointed if you enjoy French cuisine! read more

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A delightful restaurant. We had three courses with wine pairings and every course was amazing. The wine pairings were perfect. All of the waitstaff were warm and welcoming and the service was impeccable. I'd go back again in a minute the next time I visit New York. read more

Love love loved my experience here! We came for my birthday and chose the four course menu. They have a separate bread station where they cut each bread to order. Each course was phenomenal and I highly recommend getting different items if you come with friends so you can try the whole menu. There was not one item I thought could be done better! My two favorites were the scallop and the iberico pork. Can't wait to come back! read more

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Wonderful food but wish the portions were not so tiny. We ate at the Bar which had the same ( or at least many of the same) dishes as the prix fixe read more

We celebrated our first anniversary here and had a truly wonderful experience. The ambiance was beautiful, the food was exceptional--especially the lobster--and every member of the staff was incredibly kind. They surprised us with a candlelit dessert and a thoughtful gift, making the night even more special. I look forward to returning for future celebrations. read more

Pros: - great service. They remember what we're celebrating. - tasting menu has more than enough food. All tasting great. - easy to book tables Cons: - tight space given the price. Was expecting some ambience more private. - menu price has been kept adjusting prices, even days before we came visit they got Michelin star and immediately raised prices again. read more

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While some dishes are extremely good, others are barely edible. Most cooked fish tends to be regularly overcooked and taste like cardboard. A pleasant sauce cannot repair the damage. Turbot was chewy. As for the so-called Dover sole, the quality of the fish was questionable, and it was markedly overcooked. To compensate, the braised half-endive, which came with it was undercooked. In addition, the pairing of Dover sole with truffles is not felicitous, all the more so as truffles had been thoroughly grilled and almost reduced to cinder. Christophe should visit Ostend to learn how to choose and cook a Dover sole. In general, vegetables are almost inexistent. The "signature dish", mashed potatoes, is satisfactory, but Christophe is not Alexandre Dumaine. By a long shot. Desserts are generally enjoyable, though too sweet - except for the vacherin, which is easily the worst I have ever tasted. Finally, do not visit Essential if you want to celebrate a special event. What Christophe deigns to offer you for the occasion is a tiny lit candle stuck on your dessert plate. French arrogance and miserliness. By the way, I am French. read more

This one star Michelin dining experience located in the Upper West Side area of Manhattan in NYC offers French inspired dishes. Each dish was like a piece of art. Chef Christophe Bellanca creates little masterpieces in his first solo restaurant opened in 2022 and achieving a one Michelin star in 2023. The atmosphere was nice with a sleek light modern interior. I started with the Rosalita spicy tequila drink $21. I chose the Four-course Experience $195 prix fixe. Before the first course they brought out a mushroom cappuccino soup with a sweet potato base, and it was so full of flavor and so delicious. My first course was the Hamachi sushi, a pacific yellowtail. My second course was Blue Prawns with caviar. My entree course was Black Bass with a side of mashed potatoes which was not creamy enough for me. For dessert I had the Chocolate Double Consommé. Everything was so delicious and beautiful. Service was wonderful. It was a special treat. read more

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I reviewed this restaurant once before I thought the moment we walked in until the moment we left was splendid. The service is outstanding. The food is delicious. We will definitely be back. read more

Essential by Christophe is incredible, service was impeccable but the food, wow!!! This is not a 1 Michelin start experience!!! But definitely a 3 Michelin stars experience. Texture, flavor and presentation are in point but mostly the cooking technique was just perfect. Thank you for this amazing meal team Christophe and chef!!! read more

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Great experience, one of a kind dining places on the Upper West Side. Food and drinks were superb, though do be ready to splurge. read more

Essential by Christophe - Warm chocolate tart, orange soufflé, petit fours and a meringue mini cakes. All delicious - French Near Me - New York, New York

This review is for a limited time summer prix fixe menu (see menu photo). Service was impeccable, always there but understated. Each dish was beautifully presented, sophisticated in flavors and balance, and well portioned to enjoy the full meal without feeling overstuffed or hungry. Mushroom Cappuccino - Great starter on its own or with the bread and butter, the mushroom flavors were so concentrated that I wondered how many mushrooms were involved in the process to create such intense flavor. Hiramasa - Chosen by both my companions who were willing to share, the fish was delicate and clean tasting and brightened by the fresh yuzu and avocado. Definitely get this if it's offered on the menu. It's a winning dish you won't find in any high-end Japanese sushi house. Zebra Tomatoes - I was swayed by the mention of King Crab in this dish but should have noticed by the title that it features the tomato more than the crab. While the dish was good, the tomatoes were a bit too cold to enjoy the sweetness they no doubt had to offer. Black Bass - What made this dish a winner and the best fish dish I've ever eaten (even compared to all the fish I've eaten in Hawaii at award winning restaurants) is the sauce which is described simply on the menu as a turmeric emulsion and falls short of describing the complex symphony of flavors that coat your tongue and make your taste buds sing with joy. I can drink this sauce on its own and it would make for a killer soup. The black bass was perfectly cooked and paired well with this sauce without taking away from the delicate flavors of the fish. Duck - Excellently prepared and unlike any duck I've tasted. We learned that the duck was dry aged to concentrate the duck flavor and to shrink the fat cap you would normally find under the skin. The duck had the perfect balance of five-spice powder and was used to mop up every drop of sauce that was poured table-side. If I lived in NYC, I would camp out at Essential by Christophe to have this dish over and over again. Yellow Peach with Lavender Granite - This was a good palate cleanser to transition into dessert. I'm not a fan of floral scented dishes but enjoyed the contrasting flavors. Warm Manjari Chocolate Tart with Madagascar Vanilla Ice Cream - This is one of the most intensely flavored and smooth chocolate tarts I've ever had. The buttery crust was perfectly held together while being a loose crumb and its texture along with the chocolate brittle complimented the velvety texture of the chocolate tart filling. The temperature of the tart was also perfect, warm but not melty, while the vanilla ice cream was cold, rich, and flavorful eaten on its own or with the tart. This tart is legendary and craveable! 2 of 3 in our party were celebrating birthdays - even the "Happy Birthday" handwriting was neat and beautiful! We had a late reservation and enjoyed meeting Chef Christophe who stopped by each table to make sure people were happy with the food. He was relaxed, friendly, and approachable and it was a treat to meet the man behind such excellent food in an unpretentious French restaurant which I feel is also more moderately priced and a great value for 4 deliciously, refined courses compared to other high-end French restaurants. read more

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Perhaps the best dining experience I've had the last five years. The food was absolutely superb and the dining room itself overseen by Paul was perfect. An well-trained staff- fine tuned. read more

Essential by Christophe - Typical of the presentation of all courses - French Near Me - New York, New York

I came here because it was the highest rated French restaurant in NYC. With so many options and famous restaurants, I was excited and nervous about what I would find. Essential delighted in every aspect of our meal. The seats were comfortable ambiance relaxed. The service staff, and there are many prepared to meet every need, was urgent, helpful, and personable. My wife and I were celebrating our anniversary, and we go the tasting menu with wine pairing. I subbed the octopus for the blue prawns, and it was a great move. If you eat with your eyes first, the meals were delicious before the first bite; the colors and heights dazzled. Each bite had layers of flavor and a great mix of textures. I am not going to pretend to be a good network star by describing each dish, but I will leave you with this- all of the food was delectable. After each course, I told my wife I should have ordered a large portion of what we just ate, only to excitably enjoy the next course. If there were any knock on the restaurant, I would say the wine pairings were mixed. While I enjoyed a few of the choices, overall the wine was muted. Will an educated pallet may defend the choices in saying that it makes the food the highlight, I was left wanting more depth from the pairings. Overall, I have the restaurant a 5 and hope I can make it back. I would trust the chef for any meal, and I don't think you would want to miss the meal at Essential if give the opportunity to dine here. read more

Essential by Christophe - Chocolate tart - French Near Me - New York, New York

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My niece and I recently tried the three course menu at Essential by Christophe, along with the non-alcoholic pairing, and the meal and drinks were fabulous. Simply delicious! The server made us feel welcome right from the start and explained each course in such a beautiful manner (and with the lilt of a French accent) that I wish I could have recorded the descriptions and replayed them for my family. We thoroughly enjoyed the mushroom cappuccino, lightly smoked scallops with caviar and champagne hazelnut, comte cheese souffle, the wagyu beef cap, lobster, and the warm chocolate tart with roasted vanilla ice cream. I'm craving these dishes again as I type this review because the food was that good. (Alas, my meals at home do not compare!) On par with the craveable meals, were the excellent recommendations from the wine sommelier, who was in charge of the non-alcoholic pairing for each individual dish. We enjoyed each choice immensely. At my request, he graciously shared with me the names of my three favorite drinks. The combination of the food, wine and drink pairings, and the warmth of all the staff combined with their professionalism, made it an evening to remember at Essential by Christophe. We will be back, and I can't wait! read more

This place is a two star Michelin experience for sure, but I am glad I can go and still get a reservation with it having one star (so far)! Amazing. Shouldn't be missed! read more

Excellent spot, probably the best on the UWS, with great service and a very tasty tasting menu. If you haven't been to the other highly rated fine dining places in NY, like Frevo etc., I wouldn't recommend this place over them, but if you are looking for something new, it definitely works. They also have a nice bar area where you can order items a la carte. read more

Another wonderful experience at Essential by Christophe. This night I had the Salad Gourmand, which was amazing! Also the Vension which was perfectly cooked and accompanied by a pasta filled with truffle, delicious & outstanding! I continue to enjoy this restaurant for their fine, excellently prepared dishes but also their outstanding service. Yes outstanding! They are so attuned to details and do such a wonderful job of presenting beautifully prepared food but excellent and quality service down to every detail. What a wonderful, excellent dining experience that I was able to share with friends that enjoyed as much as I do. So glad to have them in the Upper West Side. read more

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Wonderful experience. Friendly and helpful staff, food and cocktails are great. Cozy space and small tables. read more

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If there's one thing about me, I'll Michelin star my way through life. So let's get started. It was a long week and I needed delicious, well curated, French food. It was a very much needed me day. Enter Essential. Having recently received its first Michelin star, I knew I had to give it a go. Ambience/Service: Love the space. Warmly lit--not as dark as a gentleman's lounge, nor an operating room--it has backlit walls/recessed lighting that lends to a warm and cozy space. I'm going to use the phrase understated elegance here. Service was spot on as to be expected of a Michelin restaurant: attentive, personable and engaging. It's easily a place you could go with your friends for a quick drink and catchup session but also a date night with all the bells and whistles. Food/Drink: I opted for the un/deux/trois/dessert prix fixe. Octopus to start; scallop as my second, venison as my third and a cardamom orange soufflé to finish. I ordered Clear Sky cocktail--Japanese whiskey/sweet vermouth/campari--YES. An amuse bouche was brought to me as a starter--squash and mushroom cappuccino. Unexpected and delicious. The octopus was divine. Deliciously grilled with a nice char. Super flavorful and paired very nicely with the carrot pulp/foam and wasabi dressing. The scallop was probably my favorite dish of the night. It was light, airy with so many layers of flavor that worked together in such a way that they didn't overpower each other. The fennel-shoyu sauce? To die for. The venison turned out to be my least favorite-- I ordered it medium and it was cooked to perfection. The perigourdine sauce--madeira and truffle was also well prepared. I paired this with a 2017 Regis Bouvier Burgundy (let it be known I am very partial to 2017 reds). However, after a couple of decent sized bites, I realized that my venison was a bit over salted. I paused, cleansed my palate and tried once more only to the same effect. So i didn't finish my venison. The mashed potato though? Creamy but dense--so, so good. My lovely primary waitress noticed that I wasn't finishing my venison, and came over to ask me if everything was OK. I told her the problem and she said immediately that she would make a note for the team for future reference. The orange marmalade soufflé was good--maybe it's me and I'm just coming into my understanding that I'm not a huge soufflé fan--but it's not a dessert I'd order again. That's not to take away from it at all, it was good--just not to my taste. The green cardamom ice cream however was delicious. And I also received a trio of mini desserts--the standout was the madeleine (which makes sense since that's my name). Overall, I had a really enjoyable night. There were some bumps, but Essential delivered much like one of my favorite chefs (Daniel Boulud) said it would. As always, happy eating and drinking. MMG read more

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To The Back of the Bus I've been here multiple times and think that the food is some of the best in the city. Unfortunately on the last two visits I had serious lapses in service and tonight's was downright crazy - even rude In November we had reservations and had to wait 26 minutes while "the customer is paying their bill" After sitting down - things took a very long time including a 40 minute wait for bread (which came after the appetizers were served). I guess as a consolation we were comped an order of frogs legs. Great for me. But nobody else in the group liked frogs legs. Tonight is the crazy visit Made reservation for the bar (in person earlier today. ) the general manger said he had the cafe table which is a very nice table Got there on time - was seated at the table for several minutes while we watched a heated commotion unfold as the bartender comes out from behind the bar - takes menus (meant for us) from the servers hand) as he goes to the hostess stand. Clearly he wanted our table for a more favored guest . He went back and forth a few times with words to other staff (still no menus for us ) . Finally the server comes over with 2 empty water glasses and suggested we move to the corner of the bar. - and we could look at menus while -Deja Vu "THE CUSTOMERS ARE PAYING THEIR BILL". I almost had to laugh - WHO DOES THIS ?????? (The server is the same one who knew the issues of our previous visit)! It's almost like we were told "there's a better seat at the back of the bus ". as soon as the other rider gets up. - unfortunately after being treated so poorly we got up and left. - feeling like unwanted 2nd class guests. There's so much good here that I'm scratching my head to understand how this could happen at a #Michelin one star restaurant. read more

A very creative French cuisine. A completely different level of experience. Should try it out. read more

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Amazing spot- great fine dining but not stuffy. Every single dish was phenomenal. I will be making a point to come back soon. Really an incredible experience read more

Essential by Christophe - French Near Me - New York, New York

Coming out of a Yelp hiatus to share our wonderful experience at Essential By Christophe. Amazing job from the entire team! This is such a great addition to the UWS, which has been lacking fine dining options for years. Loved the ambiance, the space has a luxe sensibility. The interior design was very well conceived. Seating is comfortable and not overly tight. It feels refined, yet convivial and warm at the same time. Something quite different for the area. The wine list is excellent and appreciated the mix of price points (it would be nice to have a more moderate option for bubbles by the glass, as well as a red burgundy). By the glass options range from $13-28, with a plethora of bottles in the $50-250 context (a rarity for NYC) as well as higher-end options. Many selections are off the beaten path and offer interesting exploration. As for the food, wow! The food was incredible, absolutely of the same caliber as was found at Joel Robuchon. I'm certain Chef Christophe's mentor would have been so impressed with the quality and creativity. From the amuse through dessert, we thoroughly enjoyed each bite. This was perhaps the best venison dish we've ever had globally. Hospitality was congenial and genuine, lending warmth to the entire experience. Honestly, there are many venues in NYC that are charging double this price point, but not delivering an experience anywhere close. Essential By Christophe makes fine dining more accessible, without compromising on the experience. No doubt this will garner a Michelin star next year. Get a reservation while you can. Bravo - we will be back!! read more

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A truly excellent experience all around. I took my parents here for their 40th anniversary, along with my three young children. We enjoyed the early summer prix fixe menu, which was $95 for 3 courses -- incredible value, after considering the additional treats. First off, the service was wonderful. The staff was very accommodating and kind to my kids, and their champagne and wine recommendations were wonderful. The amuse bouche was a mushroom and sweet potato concoction that I could have eaten 3x more of, so delicious! My sister adored the olive bread and doesn't even like olives, and the duck breast was perfectly cooked. Chocolate tart was a big hit with the table, and I adored the petit fours. everyone left very happy and contented. Will be recommending to all my friends. read more