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Ai Fiori
Categories: Restaurants Italian Restaurants French Italian, French [Edit]
400 5th Ave(between 37th St & 36th St)
New York, NY 10018
Neighborhood: Midtown West
(212) 613-8660
- Nearest Transit:
-
34 St - Herald Sq (B, D, F, M, N, Q, R)
5 Av (7, 7X)
42 St - Bryant Pk (B, D, F, M)
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Dressy
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$$$
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- No
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- Paid
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Classy
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
216 reviews for Ai Fiori
Review Highlights
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"Definitely try out the squid ink pasta and ravioli." In 34 reviews -
"Beautiful decor in the swanky Setai hotel is a plus." In 16 reviews -
"For dessert, the best is the baba al rhum." In 6 reviews
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215 reviews in English
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Review from Emma C.
5/25/2012
One of the top 10 meals of my life. John, our waiter, was a knockout waiter and I will remember this for the rest of my life.
The 4 course prix fixe meal was a great deal, and portions are actually pretty small so expect to be in the satisfied to full range. -
Review from Amanda B.
*********************** 735 **************************
My trip to NYC was all about food, after all, a year of stress of doctors, and that a%# F&#*ing boss that basically robbed me dried at my previous work, and harassed me; my parents sent me away for my BDAY, it was a much needed trip!
Food will take away any stress and pain right? Too bad, at the time I couldn't eat much, because of the medication I was on; but I got friends with me and oh did they enjoy all the Michelin starred restos that I all RSVPed for us.
Ai Fiori was on my list to try, since I love how chef Michael White did with Marea (2 Michelin stars) and I also dined at Osteria Morini when it first opened, where I met chef Michael White; so this was under young and talented chef Chris Jaeckle, with he is no longer at Ai Fiori. He was an alum at Eleven Madison Park, a 7 years with the Danny Meyer's Union Square Hospitality Group; so I know chef White wouldn't hired anyone less. I was in for a real treat.
Locate inside the Setai Hotel, i can only imagine walked in with this beautiful marble bar, to the warm dining room, fresh flowers, impeccable service, just as Marea, but this is a much more beautiful space. And opened door in 2010, it earned a Michelin star in OCT 2011, I was there just 2 days after it earned it. OCT is the best time to be in NYC for the Michelin release and the participation couldn't be any better.
- Amuse bouche - it's a nice soup with Piedmont black truffle.
- Sardine - Mediterranean sardines, tomato confit, ceci mille foglia, olio nuovo - Thank you to our wonderful server to recommend this dish - beautifully plated, tasted even nicer.
- Vellutata - Lobster velouté, Périgord black truffles, chervil - this was a divine dish, every spoon was smooth, delicious, and the aroma is intoxicated! Wish I could licked the dishto the last drop, if my friends were watching me!
- Pansotti - Lumache brasato, lemon butter, parsley, veal jus! Anything pasta is ABSOLUTELY wonderful here.
- Tortelli - Ricotta and mascrpone ravioli, boschetto cheese, rend wine glazed, just enough glazed to taste it, the cheese melt on my tongue on each bite!
- Agnolotti - Braised veal parcels, butternut squash, black truffle sugo - At this time I wasn't sure which dish is better, or it just kept getting better, and better.
- Vitello - Anish veal chop "au four" saltimbocca, new potatoes - you got to see the pic! Epic, perfectly medium rare, thick cut, plenty to share, juicy!
- Agnello - Rack f lamb en crepinette, panise, romanesco, parmesan - So even our server recommend us this dish, I know I can do no wrong! The meat was just stunning, i asked myself only in NY that the Italian food can get this good, outside of Italy! Or even better, because of all the ingredients, best of all world?!
No dessert for me, since I don't eat sweet, satified by my friends, they were both "uuumm, arrr", closed their eyes half of the meal, and didn't speak a word to me... It was that successful of a meal. And Thank you chef Michael White for taken good care of us. Looking to come back to try it all over again!
I'm a fan of chef White, you can believe me! Follow chef Michael White @chefbianco
Overall: 5 stars
For value: 5 stars
For Food: 5 stars
For Service: 5 stars
For ambiance: 5 stars
Location: Inside the Setai hotel - midtown ManhattanListed in: Michelin Star, NYC Love
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Review from Alison H.
I must preface my review for Ai Fiori by saying that I arrived a bit drunk. After my last final a few of us went to Bryant Park Café for a drink....which turned into celebratory end of semester shots.
Thank god I had scoped out the menu days beforehand and I had a semi idea of what I wanted. We did the 4 course pre fixe for $89. Razor clams, blue crab spaghetti, butter poached lobster and dessert (don't remember the name). Everything was delish. I def felt like I could have eaten more...especially the blue crab spaghetti. A portion twice the size would have been great.
The service at Ai Fiori was by far the best I have ever experienced though. We had 4 waiters, every question answered and every dish presented as it arrived with a detailed description. All new china, silverware and glasses with each course.
Even slightly inebriated I knew I was fancy.
Bill was $260 for the two of us. I did feel like this was a bit much I must say. Maybe others do too...it was easy getting a reservation and at 8pm many tables were open.Listed in: I'm Fancy Huh?
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Review from Pomaska H.
New York, NY
5/16/2012
I ate an early dinner at Ai Fiori with my mother last Wednesday before a concert. I called at 6 PM to see if they could accommodate us a.s.a.p. and the woman on the phone was very friendly and helpful. She secured us a table right away.
The service was OUTSTANDING. I have never had such an attentive wait staff in my life. Everyone from our waiter, to the server who brought the bread, the one who served the wine, and the little cookies after desert were so polite, knowledgeable and efficient.
We both ordered the Royal Blush cocktail. It was one of the best cocktails I have had in a while. Usually when I order a cocktail I immediately regret it because they are typically so sweet, this was not the case with the 'Royal Blush'.
The food was amazing. To start my mom and I shared the spaghetti with blue crab, lemon, bottarga, chilies. As a main my mother had the laurel crusted atlantic cod, brandade, black truffle, porcini, which she loved. I had the appetizer the nova scotia lobster salad, whipped ricotta, peas, lemon. I wouldn't get the lobster salad again but the lobster chunks were excellent.
The desert was incredible and I am not even a sweets person. We ordered the ligurian olive oil cake, strawberry, pine nut, rosemary yogurt gelato. SO delicious!
We will definitely be back for the tasting menu. -
Review from Ashley S.
Tampa, FL
5/16/2012
THE BEST SOFT SHELL CRAB IVE EVER HAD!
The location is a bit hard to find, hidden in the second floor of 400 5th ave. There isnt much of a sign for the restaurant either, but the Italian flag helped. However, once you find the place you will be happy. Great wine list and I was blown away by the soft shell crab, it was perfectly cooked and the sauce had a hint of orange. YUMMM -
Review from Samuel M.
New York, NY
5/13/2012
I loved Ai Fiori. The service was impeccable. Every dish was delicious. It's high cuisine reinvented. The entrance is beautiful, the Setai Hotel is really nice. Each of us asked for a $98 four course menu. The Narcisse Pinot Noir was really good.
I ate the Vellulata, The risotto with duck confit was delicious. The branzino looked excellent. The portion size is right. The audience is older no doubt. Great place. Recommended. -
Review from David S.
4/30/2012
Excellent food, service, and presentation. I did not quite enjoy it as much as a recent meal at Marea, but that's a high standard to beat. The meal was a perfect progression from subtle lighter dishes to heavier rich ones. The amuse bouche was overall fantastic, 3 small bites. Beets and Goat cheese made me a fan of beets! Borata with caviar (American I believe) was the best bite, super creamy and delicious. The fluke crudo was just alright, very mild fish. The service was attentive and friendly. It was also casual in a way that I love, this is not formal uptight service although the ambiance and vibe is upscale. The busboys appeared to be as knowledgeable about the food and wine as the waiter.
We ordered a bottle of wine, which took quite a while to arrive. When it did, we were informed that the first 2 bottles they opened exploded on them! Must have been something wrong with the wine, because the bottle that did open properly tasted off, and was immediately returned. They did not blink, took it back and offered us another style of wine. Perfect service. The bottle of Prosecco we ended up receiving was well priced and delicious.
We opted for the 7 course tasting menu:
1 - Insalata di Astice (nova scotia lobster salad, whipped ricotta, peas, lemon).
Very tender light dish, the ricotta was whipped to such a light consistency this was a excellent start to the meal. Delicate without being bland, the lobster itself was paired surprisingly well with the ricotta. Nice crunch from the vegetables and the bread.
2 - Animelle (crispy sweetbreads, pomme purée, truffle vinaigrette, pancetta).
Fantastic dish, and an interesting way to serve sweetbreads. Never seen sweetbreads so white before. Perfectly crispy with a thin battered crust. Excellent accoutrement, deep lush flavors, wonderful dish.
3 - Ravioli di Uovo (egg yolk raviolo, nettles, morels, ricotta).
Loved this! Rich, deep earthy flavor from the nettle and morels, light yet packed with flavor raviolo. Small portion, but immense flavor.
4 - Ippoglosso (line caught atlantic halibut, baby romaine, guanciale, white bean purée, preserved lemon jus).
Another winner, delicate cut of fish, great texture from the romaine, excellently matched with the guanciale, one of my favorite dishes of the night.
5 - Vitello (amish veal chop "au four," new potatoes, prosciutto, sage)
This was a surprise, since it was a $10 supplement on the 4 course tasting menu, I did not expect it at the base price of the 7 course tasting menu. Great value. The meat was tender as anything, the fat seems to melt in my mouth. They even brought out the bone for my wife to chew on. Fun!
6 - Panna Cotta (balsamic crema, blood orange, marcona almond, lemon sorbetto).
Never had a Panna Cotta served in a (cracker?) shell, such a great idea. One of the more flavorful Panna Cotta's I've ever had, and perfectly creamy, excellent pre-dessert!
7 - Crostata di Cioccolato (gianduja mousse, bosc pear, port, violet, vanilla gelato)
Perfect dessert, not to sweet, contrasting flavors and textures. The fruit pieces paired well with the dense chocolate. We both loved this.
Milder flavors overall than some of the other dishes i've had from Michael White. Yet everything we ate was memorable, perfectly cooked, and complementary to the meal. I look forward to returning! -
Review from Bryant R.
4/29/2012
Ai Fiori is a place that really could be a five but lacks that certain Je ne sais quoi that it would need to be excellent. Perhaps I felt this way because the restaurant was relatively new when I first tried it.
The dishes are all fine, but not quite up to the standard of related restaurants like Marea and the, now closed, Convivio. -
Review from ada m.
New York, NY
5/25/2012
What a delightful hotel restaurant with wonderful ambiance. I only wish that I could have sampled everything on the menu because the food is enticing. Everyone in our party of five was most happy about their dining experience here. This is an expensive restaurant, but the four-course prix fixe for $89 is a relative bargain. More so, because only one item on the prix fixe menu had an added supplemental price. Some complain about the smaller portions, but I thought with four courses that they were just perfect. I started with the Insalata which was disappointing because the dressing tasted somewhat bland. However, I should have been more adventuresome, but wanted some healthy greens to start! Next I had the Corzetti, a wild mushroom ragu, which was scrumptious. A larger portion would have been perfect for an entree. It might sound mundane, but I choose the Merluzzo for the entree, a crusted cod with a black truffle sauce with porcini which I thoroughly enjoyed. I chose a tasty light dessert of sorbets which was beautifully presented. The service at this restaurant is impeccable. I can't wait to return and savor more of the food!
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Review from Joyce H.
4/23/2012
If I could give this place 10 stars, I would. Everything about my dining experience was perfect, from the food to the decor of the restaurant to the service. I am in love with ai fiori!
The three of us did the 4-course prix fixe with an appetizer, pasta, entree, and dessert. Between our 12 courses and my friend who helped hook us from the kitchen (thank you!!!!!!!!! :D ) we got to try a huge sampling of the menu. Starting from the top:
Appetizers:
Crispy soft shell crab and prosciutto
Razor clams and fennel: Nice texture to the clams but not as flavorful as I would have liked overall
Crispy sweetbreads with pancetta: amazing; the truffle vinaigrette was so good. I usually don't like sweetbreads either but this one was delicious, coated in a lightly fried shell. I'm a fan.
Pastas:
Ricotta and marscapone ravioli
Trofie Nero (black squid ink pasta):
Agnolotti braised veal parcels:
Egg yolk ravioli and morels
Lobster corzetti with mushrooms
Every single pasta dish was a 5/5, and my favorites were the squid ink pasta for the excellent al dente texture and the Agnolotti because the veal was so delicious. Everything was cooked really well though. I'd say if you had to skip one, skip the lobster corzetti because the lobster bites were small and wasn't as good as the other pasta dishes.
Entree:
Butter poached lobster
Long island duck and foie gras
Lamb with goat cheese and mint
Out of the three, I liked the lobster the best. I only had a small bite but it dissolves in your mouth without you even needing to chew. I've never had lobster like that before. The portion is tiny but so worth it. The lamb is a hefty portion and also very tender, not much of that gamey taste that I dislike. The duck was also good, though a bit chewy for my tastes.
We tried almost all of the desserts and my favorites were the brioche, the olive oil cake, and the nutella layer cake. By this point I was stuffed to the point of exploding and I left a very very happy customer.
Thanks again to the staff for impeccable service, and of course to my friend in the kitchen!! Had such a great time here! -
Review from Chuck M.
Downtown, Seattle, WA
5/20/2012
Came here with a client for a business dinner a couple of weeks ago. Arrived early. Stopped at the bar for a glass of wine. The staff at the bar as well as the Maitre 'd were very helpful. We were offered a chef's tasting menu immediately (our guest was known to the staff and apparently they wanted to showcase the menu to us). Well done, I say. I lost track of the number of courses they served us. Some standouts - the Halibut and the Ravioli were absolutely divine. the tenderloin at the conclusion was also superb. This was a fabulous dining experience, and the service was exceptional. I'm not from NYC, so I don't have a lot to compare it to, but it's definitely on par with anything I've had in the Seattle area's top restaurants.
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Review from Saga D.
New York, NY
5/25/2012
rolled through for a work dinner, definitely needed a classy joint that didn't exude stuffy rich but young rich....ai fiori did me justice.
drink was good, not great. salad was bleh but rarely do i ever get an amazing salad. entree was out of this world, i had the ravioli and was a bit confused when i only saw 2...i could tell they really put their weight into making each one, absolutely amazing. i will definitely be back... on a work tab ;) or a celebration, prices are up there. what i did appreciate was the space, it wasn't cramped and stuffed like you had to weasel through tables. my colleague (rich young buck from singapore) said his plate was great but he wouldn't rank it up as the one of the best in NYC..... -
Review from Jo K.
New York, NY
4/10/2012 1 Check-in Here
I ate here for a nice valentines day dinner and it was very memorable, but maybe I expected too much, cause I wasn't blown away by the food.
Started with the foi gras with pear then on to the Spaghetti with blue crab. Both were good. I then had the pouched lobster (meh) then next was the roast duck which was enjoyable as well. We ended with passion fruit sorbetto and 2 wonderful desserts that I really, really enjoyed.
The food was good, don't get me wrong, but I enjoyed the dessert more and I'm not even a dessert person.
Service was excellent, there was live music (mind you, it was valentines day) and some unexpected ass-grabbing by a very drunk patron and and his very embarrassed date on the dance floor! Poor lady. -
Review from Sue K.
Englewood, NJ
4/25/2012
Came here for my birthday with the bf. He picked it. Venue was really nice. I walked in and was greeted by a friendly entourage of people. Bf was already seated and waiting for me. We perused the menu. I was thinking about the tasting menu but we went with the prix fixe. The meal, the service and the whole dining experience started out fantastic but then, as the night went on, everything just went on a steady decline. Food, service, everything.
Our waiter pretty much disappeared right before the main course. Entrees were ok, but nothing special. They forgot to put a candle on the cake (though bf had requested it). Dessert wasn't anything special. And as we walked out, all the people who had enthusiastically greeted us in just ignored us. Weird.
Too bad. It could have been a really great dining experience I think. Not sure what happened...? -
Review from Jeffrey H.
San Francisco, CA
5/22/2012 1 Check-in Here
The Agnolotti is amazing. Breath taking.
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Review from Suanne L.
4/5/2012
Ai Fiori is a gorgeous and well executed Northern Italian restaurant on Fifth Ave. Dear Fiance treated me to the chef's tasting menu a month back as my anniversary present.
Ai Fiori is beautiful, at the top of a lazy modern spiral staircase. It is simple, elegant, and dimly lit. Diners tend to speak low and service is quickfooted and exceptionally polite. The captain was especially kind about our time restriction and made sure to explain how the service would work. Plating is very elegant, allowing one to see and taste the quality of the ingredients.
My favorites are the sturgeon caviar on cod sashimi, the lobster knuckle soup, and the chocolate semifreddo mousse. Ai Fiori knows their fish and I would heartily recommend them to a seafood lover. My only regret was not having more capacity to finish my king crab pasta or lamb chop, which were two of the heavier dishes.
Recommended for very nice dates, and I bet lunch is a great option for business people. 4 stars. -
Review from Angel K.
New York, NY
Like all other totsy restaurants, I get it. Both me and my food companion look younger than majority of your other diners but dont judge a book by its cover. We like food, we tip, and we dont harass the staff. I hope you got that after the first hour of judgement and ridiculousness. On to the food, after trying Marea several weeks ago, I decided to move on to the next of the Michael White restaurants. Ai Fiori definitely a good overall experience. The Setai Hotel is absolutely gorgeous, perfect location, and romantic ambiance. Definitely opt for the pre-fixe for a full experience from start to finish. Now the wine selection, its extensive, lengthy but very managable with help.
Apps we did the Animelle (crispy sweetbreads) - a huge MUST !
Mare E Monte diver scallops, black truffles, bone marrow, - widely popular recommended by waiter
Pastas we did the Trofie Nero - absolutely has Michael White amazingness all over it. Loved it so much, ordered a second portion.
Agnolotti braised veal parcels - So so soft
Entree we did the Astice butter poached nova scotia lobster - good good but it was pretty obvious that the duck was a better choice (didnt go for the Bouillabaisse since we had tried a similar dish at Marea before).
The Anatra (the duck) my very very favorite of the night, the foie gras really just wowed me.
Im sure I wont be able to do this all the time (for obvious waistline reasons) but if I could, I would.Listed in: glad you came into my life
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Review from Enoch H.
New York, NY
Located on the second floor of the Setai Hotel on Fifth Ave, the Michelin-starred Ai Fiori sits at the top of a polished marble spiral staircase. As you reach the top, there's a nice bar and lounge area with a modern feel to it. The hardwood-floored dining room is quiet and spacious, with windows stretched across one side overlooking the street. In terms of noise level, it's nice to actually have a conversation with everyone at your table and not be disturbed by the ramblings of other patrons or waiters walking by, something not too common in New York City.
Speaking of waiters, service was top-notch the entire evening. This has the potential to be the standard to which I start comparing all other restaurants to. Our waitress was very knowledgeable regarding the menu and was able to give recommendations according to our personal preferences. It felt like she genuinely cared and wanted us to have a great time. We did not give the sommelier an easy job either, but he was able to pick out a decent Pinot Noir to pair with our fish and lamb within our given price range. Glasses were never empty throughout the meal, whether it be water or wine. But the real "cherry on top" was when one of our friends had to leave before our meal was actually over. Not only was she able to pay early for her portion of the bill, our waitress even sent her dessert back into the kitchen so they could pack it up to go. If that's not good service, then I don't know what is.
Now, onto the crux of it all. We decided to forego the tasting menu and just stick with the prix fixe. To start off, our amuse bouche was a chilled fennel soup served in a shot glass with tiny balls of lemon gelatin. The lemon added a nice citrus note to the soup, which had good fennel flavor to it.
For the first course, I ordered the sweetbreads; and to be honest, I had mixed feelings about the dish. My initial thought after the first bite was of popcorn chicken since the coating was on the hard and slightly thicker side. The proportion of coating to sweetbreads in that first bite was not very flattering. But as I ate on, the sweetbreads had a soft and tender texture that went well with the pancetta and truffle sauce. I think more truffle flavor (and less coating) could have elevated the dish, so even though it wasn't bad, I've had better as far as sweetbreads go.
The crudo looked fantastic when it was set down, portion size was good and all the pieces were topped with sturgeon caviar. The saltiness of the caviar was nice with the fish, but I wished the fish was more melt-in-your-mouth. My favorite of our first courses, however, was the lobster soup. A buttery and creamy soup with hints of black truffle and immense lobster flavor were poured over fresh chunks of lobster. I could drink that all day.
The traditional second course of pasta or risotto followed, but Michael White's pastas taste like nothing traditional. The Trofie Nero pasta was simply delicious in every way. Perfectly al dente and slightly chewy, each bite of pasta and seafood had an added texture with the breadcrumbs sprinkled on top. Unfortunately, I made the mistake of not ordering a pasta at a Michael White restaurant and decided to mix things up with the risotto. Never again. The risotto was way too salty and slightly overcooked in consistency. A very prominent sage aroma went well with the duck and mushrooms, but the dish just could not be rescued.
When my third course arrived, I had to fight the urge to pick up the two glorious racks of lamb, one in each hand, and devour the meat from the bones with my teeth. They were cooked to a nice medium rare and tender throughout. The dish had good flavor with the fresh peas and goat cheese panisse.
My friend ordered a fish that was cooked well. The meat was firm, but a little flat in flavor so not really that impressive. The duck and foie gras dish was tasty, but sadly inconsistent. Some parts were tender and juicy while others were tough. The friend who ordered the guinea hen really enjoyed it, so it must have been decent though I didn't try it myself. Overall, as good as everything tasted, nothing was so spectacular that I'd go for a second serving of.
Desserts were decent all around. The rum cake was tasty, yet not too sweet, with nice textures from all the components on the dish.
Ai Fiori has some great courses here and there, just as long as you pick the right ones. The highs are very high, but the lows, well let's just agree to stay clear from those. They also have an extensive wine list, focusing obviously more around Italian wines. Overall, with solid food and exceptional service, I would definitely return to try the rest of the menu, especially the pastas that eluded me this time around.Listed in: Restaurants
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Review from Keith U.
Brownsville, TX
5/21/2012 Seated via OpenTable
We went on Saturday night before the Theater and had the 4 course pre fix. It is a very nice setting with excellent service. Both the lobster salad and the lobster soup were outstanding. The highlight was the pasta course with the ravioli being one of the best dishes any time any where. The tortilini was also very good. We had veal and lamb for the main course and they were both well cooked and seasoned. Desert is the only reason I hesitated on the 5 stars. it was very good but not quite the very high standard of the rest of the meal. It is certainly not cheap, but overall for the quality of food and the service it is not unreasonable.
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Review from Elaine C.
3/13/2012
Do the pre-fixe!
This was one of the best meals I have ever had. I came here with two others for dinner and we all did the four course pre-fixe which includes your selection of an appetizer, pasta/risotto, seafood/meat, and dessert. We made sure we ordered something different each so we were each able to taste a bit of everything. Every. single. dish. was amazing! It's hard to compare Ai Fiori to Marea (Michael White's Michelin star rated Seafood restaurant which I also enjoyed), but if I were to compare, I would say Ai Fiori is more consistent - every single dish is a hit. While at Marea, some dishes were just significantly more enjoyable than others.
For appetizers, we had the Cannolichi, Branzino, and the Insalata Di Astice. My favorite was the Branzino. The bass was full of flavor and was covered with cavier and on top of something crunchy - the texture and flavor was perfection.
For pasta/risotto, we tried the Agnolotti, Corzetti, and Risotto. My favorite was the Agnolotti - a kind of ravioli stuffed with veal and butternut squash covered with black truffle oil. The veal and butternut squash are wonderful together inside the thin, fresh ravioli skin. I've never had such fresh and And the truffle oil gives it so much flavor!
For seafood/meat, we got the Merluzzo (atlantic cod), Ippoglosso (atlantic halibut), and the bouillabaisse. I can't choose between the bouillabaisse and the Merluzzo. The seafood was fresh and cooked perfectly in both. The brandade was amazing with the cod. The broth in the bouillabaisse is spectacular!
For dessert, we had the torrone, tartaletta, and Tor ta di Cioccolato. The torrone was my favorite. The other two were a little too rich.
Overall, the food is perfect. The service and ambiance are also great. I highly recommend Ai Fiori. This has got to be on everyone's to do list. -
Review from Linda M.
New York, NY
4/7/2012
Fantastic service! beautiful space !
I've dined at marea & now ai fiori! Michael white....food genius! But I still love marea a little more!
Favorites....sardines yes!....crudo,yes! black squid pasta.. yes! I had to add some hot crushed pepper to mine though, it needed spice .
I ordered the cod....Mehh. I regret not ordering the lobster salad:(
The desserts at marea were more exciting. i'll skip it next time. we had olive oil cake & citrus tart... it wasn't bad. but nothing special either.. not enough citrus .. too creamy , not enough texture with meringue . The cake was simple and good but not mind blowing , it needed something with it. if i'm eating dessert.. it needs to be a palette experience... neither were.
next time i'll do all starters & squidink / seafood pasta! -
Review from Anton E.
Manhattan, NY
3/6/2012
A night of immoderate indulgence but a good experience for special occasions.
5 Stars for the staff's impeccable manners, highly pleasing food, and invitingly comfortable ambience. -
Review from Jewel Y.
Here's my overdue review of Michael White's Ai Fiori based on my Restaurant Week lunch! Before my first visit to Ai Fiori, my knowledge of Chef Michael White was very limited. I knew he owned a few high end Italian restaurants in NY but from his typical Anglo-Saxon name I was a bit skeptical at first about the authenticity of the cuisine. Prior to my lunch appointment with my friend at Ai Fiori, I decided to do a little background check on the chef and I was thoroughly impressed!! I learned that he was trained in Italy at the high end restaurant Ristorante San Domenico in Imola, that he is married to an Italian woman, and has won many awards and accolades including James Beard Best New Restaurant Award, 2 Michelin Stars, 3 stars from NY Times, etc. Wow, extremely promising! With high hopes I arrived at this posh and a bit stuffy and corporate restaurant which seemed perfect for corporate power lunch.The ambiance was slightly reminiscent of SHO Shaun Hergatt, but less stylish. I give 3.5 stars for the ambiance, too boring and too aseptic for my taste.
Now the food..... Considering it was a Restaurant Week menu, I had realistic expectations and overall Chef Michael White lived up to them. Considering the RW prix-fixe was only $24.07, food was fantastic especially the pasta with mushroom ragout!!! The dish was simple and yet very sophisticated and exquisite! The cauliflower soup was delicious but it was just too predictable....I'd rather get something more adventurous next time. The chicken was executed nicely and satisfactory but I recommend the pasta more for the entree. Besides the pasta, the chocolate tart with salted caramel and stracciatella gelato was the highlight of my meal. It was soooooo good, the rich and complex flavor of dark chocolate and salted caramel was so addictive!! I also had the chance to try the simple olive oil cake for the first time and I liked it very much but the chocolate tart is hands down the best!!!
I'd love to try the full dinner course one day. Need to save up $$$!!!Listed in: My favorite Italian…
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Review from Lin M.
Pelham, NH
2/25/2012
We went as a family celebration...part of a long weekend in NYC.
Food was excellent, service was great...expensive but to be expected.
We all had the 4 course prix fixe menu. Each having something a little different. The portion size is NOT huge but just right. The food is very rich so the right portions are esstential to enjoying the meal as well as the timing of service. It was impeccable.
I would recommend for a special night out or just a great meal. -
Review from Cecilia Z.
New York, NY
1/29/2012
Note: this review is based solely on my experience during Restaurant Week lunch.
I'm a big fan of Chef Michael White, what with how much I fell in love with Marea just last year. Ai Fiori seems to be quite different from Marea, catering more to the midtown business lunch crowd. The ambiance is nice, for sure, as it is situated inside the swanky Setai Hotel. The service we received, however, was pretty bad for a Michelin-star establishment. Our waiter was unenthusiastic, our entrees took forever to come out of the kitchen and no one even bothered to check up on us, and he even rushed our check right after our table was cleared. Frankly, I don't care if it's RW. It shouldn't be an excuse for any well-respected restaurant to treat customers any differently just because they are paying less. If you're going to participate in RW in hopes of attracting new diners who will hopefully return, then shouldn't you at least make an honest attempt in providing good service?
As for the food... everything tasted good but not great. Both appetizers we ordered (the celery soup and terrine) were a tad too salty and nothing special. The bread we were given before our meal was also cold and quite boring. The entrees were a step above the appetizers, however my chicken dish was so unevenly cooked that I was not able to eat half of the plate. The other skate dish was much better than my chicken, especially tender with a crispy exterior. For dessert, we tried both options: a milk chocolate creameux and olive oil cake. The chocolate dessert was beyond decadent, pretty much impossible to finish as it became too sweet after a few bites. I enjoyed the olive oil cake, which was lighter than other versions I have tasted before. Overall the RW menu was just pretty lackluster and standard.
Sure, I am always a little skeptical of RW yet somehow can't stay away from the amazing deal to dine at five-star restaurants for a fraction of the regular price. I have certainly had worse RW experiences than my lunch here, but I have also had a number of better RW meals. Unfortunately, Ai Fiori is kind of just stuck in the middle... perhaps I will return in the future for their normal lunch/dinner menu, but I think I would rather spend my money at Marea.Listed in: Pre-Fixe Deals, Collecting Michelin Stars
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Review from David H.
2/26/2012 1 Check-in Here
The food was closer to 3-stars than 4, but the interior decor and the great service boosts this up to 4 stars. Also, since I came for a Restaurant Week lunch, I'll give them the benefit of the doubt.
I had the salad to start, followed by the hand-made pasta, and a slice of olive oil cake to finish. The salad was fresh, beautiful, and very satisfying. The pasta was good for a couple of bites, then quickly became too creamy for my taste. This is entirely a matter of opinion--I just felt it was a bit too heavy for lunch. The olive oil cake was soft, moist, and just the right portion (I tend to finish anything you set in front of me, so portion sizes do matter, if only for my personal health).
Terrific staff and nice ambiance. I look forward to coming back, but probably not during RW next time. -
Review from Ella C.
New York, NY
Dinner for 4. My in-laws were visiting from out of town, so we took them here as a "special occasion" dinner.
We had 4 appetizers, 4 mains, 3 desserts, 1 bottle of red, 2 beers and 2 cocktails = $500 incl tip and tax.
It was a splurge but totally worth it! The service was impeccable - attentive at all times without being intrusive. The food was amazing! Some of the dishes were a little rich to have as main dishes - such as the duck risotto, and I really enjoyed my lamb wrapped in fois gras but it got a bit rich towards the end.
The only "minor" gripe is that they could improve their bread basket selection. Their bread basket was not as good as some of the other places of this calibre.
Enjoyed the food, the wine, the service and the ambiance. Brilliant evening - everyone enjoyed their meals and had a good time. I would definitely come back! -
Review from Jacqueline Y.
New York, NY
1/26/2012
Direction on finding the restaurant: Walk into the main lobby of the Setai Hotel, bear left up to the stairs on the 2nd floor. (clearly i got lost)
Restaurant Week Winter Lunch Menu:
My sister had the cauliflower soup and I had the insalata as our appetizers. Her soup was far better than my salad, but the salad was nicely prepared and dressed. The cauliflower soup has pieces of cauliflower in it that gave it great texture against the creaminess of the base.
She had the mushroom homemade tagliatelle and I had the skate. The pasta had a warm buttery homey feeling to it, but it lacked in flavor. It would have been perfectly paired with the skate that was savory and delicious with hidden lentils underneath, if it had been presented on the same plate. Luckily, me and my sister shared and got to pair the two.
For deserts we tried one of each, the salted caramel dark chocolate tart and the lemon olive oil cake. Both served with a small scoop of gelato, which i wish I had more of. The olive oil cake had a strange after taste but it should be expected with olive oil and the chocolate tart was decadent. I wish I had ordered a coffee with it.
The food was prompt and service was great. The waiters all smiled warmly with no hint of judgement for us ordering off the restaurant week menu. The ambiance is warm and not as stiff as one might seem but it's definitely a place where you should
dress appropriately.
The lost star from a stellar 5 star review was because the overall experience didn't justify the price for me, but to each his own. -
Review from Joy J.
Brooklyn, NY
2/5/2012
I tried it during restaurant week. 24 bucks for a three course lunch. I have to mention that I did yelp research before deciding which restaurant week participant restaurant to try. and this is one of few well reviewed French restaurants in the city that participate. I have to say, it's very worth the stars given by yelpers.
a fantastic experience!! Good service and ambiance! i ordered cauliflower soup to start. it was creamy and flavorful. then hand-made pasta with mushroom as entree. It's very flavorful and unique. I loved it!! Strongly recommend. My friend ordered pan seared chicken. I tried the chicken. Fantastic! it was well seasoned and crispy on the skin but tender and juicy inside. for dessert, i had milk chocolate cake, and my friend had olive oil cake. Mine had three layers of chocolate, the top layer is almost black colored chocolate scattered with edible gold leaf, and middle layer is like chocolate mousse, but the texture is thicker. and bottom is like chocolate pie crust. For me, it tasted a little over my sweet tolerance, but my friend loved it. we ended up eating each other's cake.
For all, i only spent 30 bucks including tips. it's a well worth experience. The food quality and portion didn't compromise simple for the special price. -
Review from Scott L.
1/23/2012
One of the best dishes of my life here - the risotto with duck confit was superb.
The experience was fantastic. Definitely an older audience at this Michael White establishment, but I found the dining experience here to be more well rounded and enjoyable.
My gf and I both had the prix fixe which seems a good deal. I thought the breads and butter selection were weak, compared to some other Michelin rated restaurants. Other than that, everything else shone.
The amuse bouche was a delightful, carrot and cumin soup shooter. The cominciare was a lobster soup for her - a fantastic, flavorful and like everything here, a heavy dish. I had the sweetbreads, which had a lot of richness from the mushrooms, but altogether was one of the weaker dishes of the night.
The pastas were perfect. I think any Michael White pasta will blow your mind. We had the Spaghetti with Chilis and Crab and the Risotto. Both were perfect. Mindblowing. Legs quivering, body hunched over your bowl, no words shared, longing sighs and altogether not caring about how embarrassing you look perfect.
The carne and pesce dishes could never compare. Both were delicious, but not perfect. I had the guinea hen, which was crispy fried which made it way too rich at that point in the evening. My date had the sea bass that looked incredible. It was also prepared masterfully.
And the dessert? ha . haha. They left me with that giddiness that a great dessert should. The dark chocolate tart was so much fun to eat!
I love it here - my favorite Michael White restaurant. I will have to check out Osteria Morini next, though! -
Review from Ina L.
Manhattan, NY
1/23/2012
We have been dying to try out Chef Michael White's Ai Fiori and I'm excited to tell my fellow Yelpers all about my experience. First off, the service is outstanding. The waiters are attentive and amiable; I give Ai Fiori 5 stars for their service. The restaurant is part of the beautiful Setai Hotel so the decor and ambiance is just as romantic and extravagant.
We started off with the salad, Sardines, Foie Gras, and the Vellatata.
The salad is a simple mixed green salad with thin slices of Manchego cheese which I enjoyed very much, minus the fact that the oil based vinegarette dressing was overpowering the rest of the salad.
The sardines were not as salty and fishy, for the lack of a better word, as I was used to so I passed it onto my mother whose palette is a bit more sensitive to sharp tastes. The Foie Gras was splendid! It was not too creamy but rich enough and easy to eat with the brioche. The best I've had so far.
The Vellatata is a smooth lobster bisque with black truffle. It wasn't overbearingly rich. In other words, it was perfection.
We then continued to our main entrees. We ordered the highly praised Trofie Nero, the Astice, the Agnello, the Risotto, and the wild Bass. Where do I begin?
The Trofie Nero is THE squid ink pasta. It's topped with plenty of seafood, breadcrumbs, and a subtle yet flavorful sauce that kept me up till the wee hours of the morning for an extended period of time. It has a lot of texture and sustenance, but everything comes together to make an amazing pasta dish. They also offer the same dish on their lunch menu so no one has an excuse not to try it.
The Astice, in my opinion, is underrated considering how there isn't much hype around it. The lobster melts in your mouth and it is complemented so well with the chauteau sauce.
The Agnello is a very heavy dish and only for those who enjoy foie gras. I personally adore foie gras so I was more than thrilled to discover that the Agnello was an ingenious concoction of slow-roasted lamb mixed in with foie gras, which is then assembled back on the bone and served alongside a bed of panisse. My mother was not too fond of it because she insisted that there was way too much foie gras and not enough lamb. I couldn't argue with her though, which is surprising because lamb has such a strong and distinct taste.
The Risotto is an intensely decadent dish. It's jam packed with chunks of lobster and bone marrow. I thought it was too much and washed every bite-full down with a swig of wine. My brother, on the other hand, licked the plate clean. Literally.
The wild Bass is okay but pales in comparison to the other entrees. In retrospect, we should have gone with the waiter's recommendation and ordered another Italian dish, considering Chef Michael White specializes in Italian cuisine. But there is always next time, and there will be a next time. -
Review from bernadette d.
New York, NY
5/14/2012 Seated via OpenTable
Food (spicy pasta dish with crab, etc.), softshell crab, lobster salad were all fantastic. Service was top notch. Recommended wine was fabulous. Love this place and will be back.
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Review from mitchell k.
New York, NY
5/2/2012
some of the best pasta you will ever have
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Review from Nancy S.
2/7/2012
Came for restaurant week with a coworker. When I first walked into the Setai Hotel, I could tell this was a "luxury" restaurant from the large and stately white spiral staircase up to the actual restaurant. The room is very large with very spacious tables and booths. My coworker and I were taken to an extremely large round table where we were seated next to each other. The service was mediocre, our waiter was there when we needed him but seemed to care less otherwise.
The food was mediocre as well, very good but nothing stuck out as spectacular to me. For my appetizer, I had the country terrine appetizer which came with a mustard spread, two tiny pickles and a lovely small baguette and my coworker had the cauliflower soup. The terrine was good, but a little too salty for my taste when put together with the mustard and pickle.
The entrees took forever to come out, and as we were getting antsy as we were on a tight schedule. My friend got the tagliatelle pasta which was great, slightly too buttery (which did make it taste better..) I got the skate which came out with a crispy outside and a wonderfully cooked tender meat inside over a sort of lentil spread. The entrees were very good.
Then the desserts came out. My coworker's chocolate dessert came out with golden flakes on the top.. perhaps a little too decadent? It was sweet beyond words however and neither of us could finish it. The olive oil cake was better, balancing sweetness and oiliness.
I have been looking forward for a long time to trying Marea, but this restaurant week trip may have dampered my enthusiasm just a bit. -
Review from Evangelia K.
New York, NY
1/10/2012
Ai Fiori is one of those restaurants you visit when you want to splurge or go to for a special occasion. It is a nice experience with very good food but make sure you bring your checkbook ;)
We went as a party of four and we each decided to do the pre-fixe dinner for $89 which includes an appetizer, pasta, meat or seafood dish and a dessert. It actually turns out to be more than that though because they add a supplemental fee for most of the main courses :-/.
I had the lobster veloute, ligurian seafood pasta and bouliabaisse. Everything was really delicious and the desserts were decadent. My only complaint was that there was a really long time span between each dish (about 30 minutes btwn each dish). This was really nice in a way because it gave you a chance to chat, etc., however, your body gets really full that way and you can't really eat your main dish. Also, you drink a lot in that time frame.
The restaurant itself is gorgeous and located in the Setai.. the views are amazing and its truly romantic.
All in all, its a very nice dinner that should be experienced at least once. -
Review from Hector M.
3/12/2012 1 Check-in Here
I wanna be a billionaire so freaking bad,
Buy all of the meals I never had,
I wanna be on the cover of Food & Wine magazine,
Smiling next to Oprah and the Queen
Oh every time I close my eyes,
I see my name in shining lights yeah,
A different Michael White restaurant every night, all right,
I swear, the world better prepare,
For when I'm a billionaire.
If I was a billionaire, I would eat here 8 nights a week. Michael White is a pasta magician: Convivio (when it closed, a part of my heart closed), Marea, and Ai Fiori. Service was so impeccable that they brought us a box of Kleenex on a silver tray because we had tears in our eyes. I went with the following 4 course $89 prix fixe (along with a bottle of Sancerre Le Mont - you can't go wrong with Sancerre):
- Vellutata: the personification of fine dining - pieces of lobster bathed in a velvety bisque. It was good, but I had to restrain myself from ordering the Animelle (sweetbreads) to pace myself.
- Trofie Nero: words cannot describe how amazing this dish is. Squid ink pasta seems cliche and overdone, but this dish is a religious experience. This was the best pasta dish I have ever had (and will ever have). The pasta is home made, the minced scallops are as fresh as can be, mouth watering acid is present somewhere (subtle hint of vinegar or lemon) , and the spicy breadcrumbs give the dish a crunchy complex texture. You will mourn when the plate is empty.
- Agnello: this dish makes me want to buy a sous vide machine. Imagine lamb chops wrapped in a flat rich sausage. This was a mind blowing follow up to the trofie nero.
- Dessert: how could I be expected to remember what I had for dessert after those two mind erasing courses!?Listed in: OpenTable, Mambo Italiano
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Review from Leslie T.
New York, NY
Went for an early Christmas dinner on 12/17, and it was absolutely fabulous.
Ambiance and service were very good. I was slightly irritated that we were sat near the entrance even though we arrived promptly, so I asked to be re-seated. Well done - our table was more intimate and cozier. Besides that blunder, the food and wine were EXCELLENT.
Starters:
Torchon (foie gras naturel, bosc pear, almond zabaglione, toasted brioche)
Animelle (crispy sweetbreads, pomme puree, truffle vinagrette, pancetta)
Entrees:
Merluzzo (atlantic cod, brandade, black truffle, porcini)
--- one of the freshest and clean tasting fish
Astice (nova scotia lobster, root vegetable fondant, chateau chalon sauce)
--- the most tenderly cooked, softest and best lobster I've ever tasted!!!!
*** First time to pair red with seafood -
- we selected a 2005 Barbera d'Asti "Bricco dell'Uccellone," "Braida"di Giacoma Bologna per the sommelier's recommendation
---- if you like Barolo try a Barbera d'Asti!
Desserts:
Baba al Rhum (tropical fruit, passionfruit coulis, crema di coco)
-- the flavor of the passionfruit coulis was perfect - the right amount to tantalize your taste buds
Panna Cotta (balsamic crema, blood orange, sesame, lemon sorbetto)
-- there was a twig-like confection draped over sorbet which I thought was neat and creative
Took photos to accompany each mention --- I don't know how else to describe the great experience we enjoyed here at Ai Fiori; you just have to go!
I've heard the Agnolotti here is divine! There's always next time to try. :)Listed in: Chasing Michelin Stars
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Review from Anne K.
Manhattan, NY
1/26/2012
Disclaimer: this is a RESTAURANT WEEK review.
This was an absolutely perfect lunch location to break the monotony of a 9-6 workday. My meal consisted of a creamy cauliflower soup to start, homemade tagliatelle with a mushroom ragout and a chocolate mouse-like cake covered in gold leaf. Can you say decadent?? All of the dishes were phenomenal with the pasta being my favorite.
If it's not restaurant week, come here intending to burn a few bucks (and witness many a business-deal occurring). My advice: wait till restaurant week and if you work nearby, take the hour and go TREAT YO SELF to one of the best lunches you will ever consume. -
Review from Malcolm K.
Brooklyn, NY
1/4/2012 1 Check-in Here
Here's what you need to know.
Pro(s):
- The Food. The 'Vellutata' lobster appetizer with black truffles and chervil will leave you breathless. It's silky, flavorful, elegant, and easily takes my spot for favorite dish of 2011. Chase that with Ai Fiori's marvelous 'Trofie Nero' squid ink pasta with Ligurian crustascean ragout, seppia, scallops, and spiced mollica breadcrumbs, and you've got one of the best meals in the country. Period.
Con(s):
-The Atmosphere. With its dark tones and frigid angles, Ai Fiori feels more like a high-end funeral parlor than it does a gastronomic monastery.
- The Service. It's good. It's just not there yet. A deuce (two people) doesn't get nearly as much attention as a five top (five people) does.
- The Price Tag. You'll dig deep. And when you do, you'll realize that you could've gone to Marea instead and probably had a better time.
The bottom line:
-The heart and soul of Ai Fiori (the kitchen) is right where it should be. It can arguably compete with the best in the world. It's just waiting for everything else in the restaurant to catch up to it. For now, it gets the tre. -
Review from Chad T.
1/8/2012
We have a new favorite 1-star Michelin Restaurant and it's name is Ai Fiori. An excellent cocktail menu, wonderful food showcased by a 4-course prix fixe that I particularly love (Marea does the same thing), and exceptional service. For the wine pairings, the Sommelier even came out to ask "Is there anything you don't like?". Why don't all restaurants do this? The wine pairings he selected were all perfect.
Here's what we had:
- Animelle (sweetbreads and pancetta)
- Sardines
- Corzetti with hen of the woods mushrooms (we added some shaved white truffle since it was the last week)
- Trofie Nero, a wonderfully spicy squid ink seafood pasta
- Rack of Lamb
- Duck Breast with sauteed foie gras
- Dark Chocolate Tartaletta
- Panna Cotta with blood orange and balsamic crema
We also added a cheese course, because their cheese cart had some interesting selections.
I am convinced that Ai Fiori will earn its second Michelin star very soon. We'll definitely be back as often as possible before it gets too hard to visit.
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