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Aquavit
Category: Restaurants Scandinavian Scandinavian [Edit]
65 E 55th St(between Madison Ave & Park Ave)
New York, NY 10022
Neighborhood: Midtown East
(212) 307-7311
- Nearest Transit:
-
5 Av/53 St (E, M)
51 St (4, 6, 6X)
59 St (4, 5, 6, 6X)
- Hours:
Mon-Fri, Sun 12 pm - 2:30 pm
Mon-Sun 5:30 pm - 10:30 pm
- Attire:
- Dressy
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Price Range:
-
$$$$
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- No
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Quiet
- Ambience:
- Classy
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
330 reviews for Aquavit
Review Highlights
"Goat cheese parfait with blueberry sorbet, "Wonderful."
(in 24 reviews)
"The Swedish meatballs were superb and moist."
(in 67 reviews)
"the appetizer herring was delicious."
(in 165 reviews)
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330 reviews in English
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Review from Daniel Z.
New York, NY
11/23/2011
Had a wonderful business dinner here. The food was excellent, with several dishes that tickled the taste buds in strange and exciting ways. Service was attentive; décor was warm and relaxed, with distinctive Nordic touches, e.g. a large deer antler as the table centerpiece.
The meal began with two amuse bouches - first a pumpernickel-flecked goat cheese lollipop, the creamy richness of the goat cheese nicely offset by the salty crunch of the pumpernickel. Then a beluga-topped sliver of raw salmon embedded in a tangy herb sauce.
My dinner companions were uniformly pleased with their cocktail selections, many of which (not surprisingly) are made with aquavit, the Scandinavian-produced spirit. The grapefruit mojito was sweet and tangy with fresh pulp and just the right amount of acidity tempering the minty sweetness.
A trio of breads was brought out - one crunchy, rustic cracker; a piece of dark, dense nut-spice bread; and a sourdough roll. Butter was presented on a dark slab of volcanic rock.
I ordered from the four-course prix fixe menu: scallops with sea urchin and hazelnuts; fluke with heirloom egg, celeriac, and black burgundy truffle vinaigrette; and a medley of Nordic seafood with cod, prawns and sea urchin. Each dish was plated beautifully and featured bold, complex flavors. The fluke was particularly memorable, with the truffle vinaigrette mixing with the celeriac and egg yolk to create a delightfully complex flavor profile.
Dessert was a very good baked goat cheesecake with fresh figs, skyr, and port wine ice cream. Just when we thought the meal was complete, another set of dessert trays was brought out - homemade chocolate confections and mini-donut holes with an array of dipping sauces.
I have a newfound appreciation for Scandinavian food and would recommend Aquavit highly. Great spot for a date or business dinner. -
Review from Javier G.
Manhattan, NY
1/17/2012
I will preface this by saying I went here during restaurant week.
Do you like to spend money on dishes that are given fancy names, but you are sure you make them with no culinary skills or "out of your way ingredients?" If yes, then this is your spot. For the appetizer I was served a slice of ham with a little bit of mustard sauce that was not only distasteful, I could not 'muster' the man in me finish it all. I then proceeded to order some meatballs, which were subpar with little taste. At this point, I wasn't hiding my disappointment in this restaurant: I needed a drink. I got a mixed cocktail, and in complete synchrony with the rest of the restaurant, it was pretty 'plebeian.' It was too sour for enjoyment, and like the appetizer I just didn't finish it.
For my main course, I got a chicken dish which, finally, was decent. But let's be honest, this is Aquavit: a highly regarded restaurant with exceptional reviews. If the chicken was decent: then in my eyes it was bad. I could be a little harsh, but I will tell you that everyone in party was quite disappointed with the food. One the bright side, the service was good, and the waiter was very receptive to our changes in order etc.
Bottom line: Will never go back and do not recommend. -
Review from JJ L.
Palo Alto, CA
11/18/2011
Lunch review only.
So I heard the Bouillabaisse here was fantastic. I have some reading to do so I think, why not go grab lunch here, try the Bouillabaisse, and do my reading there.
I arrive and immediately love the space and the freshness and modern feel to it. I get the menu. Bouillabaisse $28. Or 3 course Prix Fixe (with Bouillabaisse as an option) $35. Given the 2 other courses are on the menu for a total of $26, this is a 3 course that would have cost you $48 but together is $35.
Now, most prix fixe options, when ordered a la carte instead, end up saving you at best a few dollars. Maybe instead of $40 it is $38, that sort of thing. So right away I am impressed that with the Bouillabaisse I was planning to order, I can get $26 worth of 2 more courses for $9, or the cost of an good extra value meal at Mickey D's.
Bread
I believe it was Danish Rye. Delicious. Loved the butter with sea salt that came with it as well.
First course - Gravlax
If you liked smoked salmon (and I love me some), you will love this dish. Very very generous portion and the salmon couldn't be any better.
Second course - Bouillabaisse
Did not disappoint! Everything in here --- the white fish, the shrimp, the scallop, the salmon --- was perfectly. Great medley of vegetables and the sauce was flavorful but not too rich or overwhelming. So so good, highly recommend this if you at all like fish.
Dessert - Arctic Circle
I have never had a Goat Cheese based dessert before. I have to say - it was fantastic. Another good portion size with some nice gelato on the side. Lovely presentation as well.
Lunch Prix Fixe = FSGN = Five Stars Go Now! -
Review from D-Baby B.
East Elmhurst, NY
2/9/2012
A beautiful restaurant and has a very exclusive feel as soon as you enter. This should be a restaurant week choice if you are thinking to go, or one of those very special occasion places. However, if you work in the area and can afford it, it's great place to frequent. The food is beautifully plated and very tasty. Also this may be a great place for a marraige proposal. So with that being said...bring the AMEX.lol
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Review from Arcadian M.
Brooklyn, NY
1/23/2012
I love love love the food at Aquavit. Their brasied shortrib "kallops" will make you slap your mother. Just understand, your wallet better be pretty thick when you go eat here. It's a beautiful place to take someone on a date but it will definitely burn a hole in your pockets.
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Review from Elizabeth L.
New York, NY
10/27/2011 1 photo
Without a doubt, one of absolute best meals I've ever had.
I've been here twice now -- the first time was for the sadly-now-gone Smorgasbord brunch. Won't reminisce about it, but the selection of herring was truly phenomenal, and such a great deal at $48 pp.
So on to dinner! My boyfriend brought me for a meal in the dining room last week; he hadn't been before and was curious to try Scandinavian food. More than certain the experience will have him hunting down more Swedish/Nordish/Danish/Finnish places in the city.
Amuse-bouche was an adorable jar of celery cream soup with a delicate fillet of smoked salmon. We were offered a selection of three breads -- note, that means we got each of the different breads: a remarkably chewy/soft/dense/perfect dinner roll, a dry rye (?) cracker, and a dense, nutty brown bread. Loved them all.
I could write a book about our entrees, so I'll just keep this short and useful by listing our favorites: DEFINITELY get the arctic char pot au feu (the uni cream is out of this world and you'll never experience eating seafood the same way again), the herring appetizer for the first course was scrumptious, and the rose hip soup for dessert. Sounds weird, I know, but the rose flavor is sweet and subtle, and I couldn't stop stealing my boyfriend's almond crunch ice cream -- after all, if I didn't eat it, it'd melt in the soup!
Service was a little stiff at first, but the waiters warmed up to us by the end of the meal -- like getting to know a new friend! -
Review from Cynthia H.
Cliffside Park, NJ
12/29/2011
I had a very interesting lunch here.
Before I start my review, I have to say that I am not a fine dining know-it-all, so forgive me for any transgressions.
I came here to meet a long-time friend I have not seen in years. She is into the fine dining shindig, and I agreed - what do I have to lose, you know? We started off with the beef tartar, the mushroom soup, and smoked salmon.
The beef tartar was intriguing. I am not a fan of beef tartar, but I tasted a little bit of it, and it affected many, if not all, of my taste buds. I can't tell if that is a good or bad thing, but it was just a very eclectic mix of tastes.
Smoked salmon....not a fan. Not at all. It had this really oily and greasy coat on it, and it went down the wrong way and feuded with my stomach. My body did not sync well with this dish.
The mushroom soup was good. It had a healthy layer of oil in it, which I was not expecting.
Main course - Swedish meatballs, sauteed veggies, and something else....I forgot.
Swedish meatballs = amazing! Sauteed Veggies = good, but nothing spectacular.
Dessert - Arctic Circle, Chocolate cake, and something else....
Arctic circle completely caught me off guard because never in my wildest dreams did I expect goat cheese in a dessert, but it worked out well. The chocolate cake came with lavender ice cream. The lavender ice cream was delicious. The chocolate cake seemed mundane to me. There weren't any bells and whistles to it, like I was expecting. -
Review from Vanni P.
Manhattan, NY
12/22/2011
One of the finest in fine dining in NYC. And Scandinavian fine dining? Not something taken for granted. But the prix fixe menu (4 options for each of the 4 courses) offers some of the best innovative food experiences ever to come out of that frozen peninsula. Salmon, caviar and the likes with all kinds of seasonal herb pairings, if you get my drift. And the wine list is great too, which is a rarity in NYC. Obviously be prepared to leave with a considerably lighter wallet, albeit a very full stomach.
-
Review from Emaa T.
Brooklyn, NY
12/22/2011
I went to Aquavit a few months ago, this place is just so wonderful, the staff was very professional. I can't complain about anything. The food was excellent. I would definitely go back to this place. This place is very pricey but it is so worth it. Definitely the place to go for dinner.
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Review from Eva W.
7/29/2011
This was definitely the WORST dining experience I have ever had. And I'm trying really hard not to be mean. You can tell this restaurant really really wants to be Michelin rated. But there are many reasons why it is not and will not be.
So many things wrong with this place, where do I even start? I'll start with the food, since I know people will have different service experiences.
Though we came here during restaurant week, my dining partner and I ordered from the regular prix fixe menu. The food was H.O.R.R.I.B.L.E.
For drinks, we ordered two flights of three samplers of their aquavit. And our waiter got our order wrong. But more on that later.
Let's just say the best part of the meal was the bread, hands down. And mostly because the butter came on a volcanic rock.
Appetizers: We started off with the Herring Degustation, which was interesting, but ultimately many of their varieties tasted the same. The Hudson Valley Foie Gras was disgustingly dry.
Entrees: I had the Roasted Porcelet Pork Shoulder. It was served in a pool of grease and basically inedible. It was also around 80% fat, and not the good kind of fat, and obviously overcooked. My dining partner ordered the Nordic Choucroute (lobster, scallops), which came in a nauseatingly overly creamy sauce. The lobster was tasteless and overcooked and the scallops were so rubbery you could practically bounce them off the floor. On top of that, both of our dishes were lukewarm/bordering on cold when they were finally served. I had one bite of my entree - that was literally all I could take. My dining partner beat me with maybe two or three bites.
Dessert: I ordered the Local Fresh Berries. This was the first time I have encountered a rhubarb dish I do not like, and I love rhubarb (I scour the farmers market for rhubarb when it's in season). My friend had the Strawberry and Meringue, which was dry.
Given the above, it's hard to believe, but the service was even worse than the food.
Our waiter was completely incompetent. Despite not hearing our orders and making us repeat multiple times (and if you know me, you know I am not a quiet girl), he still brought us the wrong drinks. He was exceptionally haughty and horribly remiss in both bringing out the food and clearing our plates. Our plates were never cleared in a timely manner, and when they were finally cleared, we still had to wait longer for the food. We sat with our napkins in our entree plates in front of us for at least 30 minutes, and the dining area was not even full.
Dinner ended up being an almost three hour ordeal. For three courses. And we are both fast eaters. Absolutely ridiculous.
Beyond that, our waiter never even asked us how we were doing and how our food was. In addition, the restaurant manager was nowhere to be found throughout the night. We had to specifically ask for her. When she came, the first thing she asked was whether we had the RW menu or the regular menu. We answered regular, but were a bit taken aback. Why does it matter which menu we had? Bad service and bad food are unacceptable no matter if we just had an appetizer or if we had one of every dish on the menu.
We specifically told her we didn't want anything, but we just had to comment on the exceptionally bad service (we didn't even mention the bad food). I saw her pull our waiter away to talk to him, and after that, he completely ignored us for the rest of the night and never came around to apologize. Absolutely unacceptable. I am honestly disgusted by the service.
With our bill, we noticed the restaurant manager had comped our drinks. Another waiter handed us each a $50 certificate off the next visit, which they were giving to everybody. I had to exert a lot of self-control to not laugh in his face. Needless to say, we left the vouchers on the table when we left.
No self-respecting restaurant needs to bribe customers with $50 off to come back. Seriously. And besides, there is absolutely nothing that could compel me to return to this horrible establishment. Not even if they were handing out gold and granting free wishes. Nothing.
I would wish this hellish ordeal on nobody. Please save your money for somewhere else, anywhere else. -
Review from Food E.
San Francisco, CA
10/6/2011
Great food and great service. The Sunday brunch, if it's still the same - is phenomenal.
I have to say, I really miss the old location on West 54th Street - I went there for Sunday brunch back in 2001 in the beautiful atrium, and it's a meal I haven't forgotten. I remember the meal so vividly, and definitely ingrained the name Aquavit in my memory.
I was really happy to go back to Aquavit for dinner at this location two years ago, but wasn't quite the same as I had remembered it (at their old location) - which is why I'm giving it 4 stars. I would give 5 stars for their Sunday brunch. -
Review from Randall S.
Manhattan, NY
11/23/2011
The new slimmed down restaurant is fairly small but lovely. The Swedish Meatballs and gravlax are stellar. Service is a bit below average for such a wonderful setting. Seemed like the waiters were serving me at a hotel function rather than at a top restaurant. If the Service were better, I would give it four stars.
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Review from Lawrence C.
New York, NY
6/30/2011
N.B.: Only a review of the Herring Festival.
One year ago, I went to Aquavit's annual "herring festival" and took careful notes on my cell phone about the myriad of herring preps on offer for my usual loquacious Yelp review. Then my phone deleted the note. So no review.
A year later, I returned, armed with an iPhone. No hiccups this time around:
Pickled ramp herring
Black currant herring
Creamy horseradish herring
Citrus dill herring
Tomato-vodka herring
Pickled rhubarb herring
Rollmops
Mustard herring
Glassblower herring
Matjes herring
Herring tart
This is one of those events where if a simple list of the choices doesn't compel you, forget about it. (cf., Yakitori Totto's menu). If you've never had pickled herring, Aquavit's celebration of it is probably not the place to start. You might just waste $38 on a foodstuff that is a distinctly acquired taste.
But if you *do* enjoy pickled herring, the smorgasbord is heart-stopping.
They didn't have my favorite prep from last year (one with sweet apple slices), but the ones on tap were more than satisfying. The mustard prep spared nothing in terms of sinus-clearing spice. The tomato-vodka one was smooth as silk. The citrus dill was creamy and balanced -- how Aquavit can manage to balance pickled herring at all is a minor miracle in itself.
Other amusements are also on offer. Reasonable Swedish meatballs are trumped by a pleasantly subtle hot-smoked brook trout, and both are overwhelmed by the best gravlax I've ever had (yes, including Russ & Daughters). Two you'd-never-guess-they-contain-anchovy dishes are also great and additionally have phenomenal names: Jansson's Temptation (potato gratin) and Gentleman's Delight (egg salad)
Some desultory vegetation and indifferent breads round out the scene. Dessert mini-cookies are dry but tasty. Seriously, who cares? Mark your calendar for next year if the thought of all that herring turns you on. If you can't wait, you can check out Aquavit's famous brunch smorgasbord for your premium Scandinavian all-you-can-eat needs.
Probability of return within 1 year: well, 100% in exactly 1 year -
Review from Jamie P.
New Haven, CT
I came here with friends for the crayfish dinner
and none of us left feeling any thinner.
The food was tasty, drinks were good-
though we spent more than we probably should.
I was with a true Swede who said the menu was off
but it tasted great, and was fun- tip top! -
Review from Janie W.
York, ME
7/26/2011 1 Check-in Here
I hover between a 3 and a 4 on this one but I'm going in for a 4 because overall this is a good restaurant.
My friends and I dined in the Bistro which I really loved for its minimalist Scandinavian decor, like an upscale sophisticated Ikea. And of course, like Ikea, I wanted to have the Swedish meatballs. They were good... not breahtaking or memorable. I'll be dreaming about the veal meatballs at Ciano for years, but these didn't stand out. I also had the arctic eggs, which were good but I actually think not goat-cheesy enough. The flavor was a bit too mild. I think my favorite part might be the bread course, I really enjoyed the mini loaf with a little pot of some kind of tartare on the side.
Service was excellent, and overall I had a good experience. I think that it's gotten a little too comfortable food-wise and could use some re-energizing. -
Review from Cathey K.
New York, NY
7/12/2011
Restaurant Week HIT! After so many RW misses, it was good to finally find a place that lived up to the Yelp reviews! Glad to see that some restaurants don't let the hype get to their heads and keep up consistently good service and food.
Everything was smooth from beginning to end. Service was attentive and prompt. I had mentioned to the hostess we had a show to catch at 8:00 so not sure if that helped make the service so prompt and efficient.
Our appetizers--we both got Herring Tatar which was very salty but delishh if you like fish and seafood...definitely not one of those dishes that is for everyone though, you'll probably love it or hate it, so I understand why some yelpers say its an acquired taste--were served promptly after we placed our orders, so promptly that I didn't even finish my bread! +points in my book (since some places *cough*One if by land, Two if by Sea*cough* like to make you wait 20 - 30 minutes before and between every course)
Once we were done with our apps, we were promptly served our main entrees. I got the blackened perch and the bf got the summer squash gratin. Both were absolutely delish! The blackened perch came with a butter based sauce that tasted a bit citrus-y. The summer squash gratin was a bit like a vegetable lasagna.
Lastly, I got the strawberries dessert and the bf got the stone fruits. The stone fruits were definitely better and more unique. Most of the fruits and the mousse that came with the strawberries dessert were all pretty sour so if you're in the mood for it--its worth trying.
All in all a wonderful experience with above average--albeit not let me call my mom and tell her about it amazing--food, with excellent service and a great ambiance. Worth trying out for RW and great value for $35 but not so sure I'd return at the regular price. -
Review from Caroline R.
Manhattan, NY
11/10/2011 4 Check-ins Here
Initially, the difference between the old, familiar Aquavit and the hyperstylized, postmillennial version is a little jarring. The entrance to the restaurant's quarters resembles a bleakly modernist public square on the outskirts of, say, Göteborg, replete with scraggly trees and rows of abandoned marble benches.
Inside, the bar has been greatly expanded into a long lounge area, where you can twirl about in high-backed chairs. The restaurant's homemade aquavits used to be stored behind the bar; now they're displayed along the wall, like pieces of art, in luminous square tankards. The dining room is small, even claustrophobic, by the standards of the grandiose old space, but the café, once part of the bar, now has a room of its own, appointed with simple butcher-block tables, pendulous sixties-era chandeliers, and orange cone chairs of the type you might see in the executive lounge of an excessively posh Scandinavian airline. Once you've adjusted to this new aesthetic, however, the food at Aquavit continues to be excellent; in fact, it's arguably better than before. After the departure of chef Marcus Samuelsson in April of 2010, former executive sous chef Marcus Jernmark is in the kitchen, making classic Scandinavian preparations like herring, gravlax, and contemporary twists like venison tartare.
HIghly recommend it to take clients or just because... GO! -
Review from Saara H.
7/21/2011
I must preface this review by stating that I went to Aquavit during Restaurant Week, a week during which restaurants put away their most inventive and/or best known dishes in order to please everyone and still make money. The Swedish meatballs that Aquavit is known for? Nowhere to be found. The salmon? Not available.
While I can't gush about the food or service, I still had a nice dinner. The service was fine and the meal was enjoyable.
Appetizer: I couldn't finish my herring tartar but my friend loved it. It was probably great, but for someone who doesn't love seafood, probably too strong of a taste.
Main course: I thought the duck confit was prepared exactly as it should-covered in fat. The blackened perch, though, disappointed.
Dessert: Alright. Fruit and almond meringue or panna cotta. Eh.
The only course I really loved was the duck. Can't say I would recommend that any of my friends go here, at least not during restaurant week, considering the price. -
Review from Minna trish A.
Manhattan, NY
8/1/2011
My family and I have been here several times, and my mom loves this place,
Since she was born in Sweden and Stockholm, myself, I think the food is very good,
great place, maybe a bit expensive but sometimes you have to pamper themselves.
Try some Swedish food, you will like it -
Review from David S.
Amazing! Easily one of the top 3 meals I've ever had. An incredible selection of flavors, textures and techniques. This was my first Nordic meal and I was not quite sure what to expect. My guest and I were completely blown away by the food, every single bite was basically perfect. Deep layers of flavor, complex food without being to fussy. Had a brief conversation with the chef at our table, he explained that they did not want the food to be to rich, but they wanted the flavors to be strong. I'd say they achieved that perfectly. We enjoyed this meal better than a few multi-stared Michelin places in Manhattan, i cant speak highly enough of this food and the place in general. The tasting course was filled with lots of delicious, elegant ingredients like uni, truffles (multiple times), oysters and goat cheese, as well as some funkier ingredients that were as tasty like veal sweetbreads and herring. They bread they serve is different and they each complement each other very well, heavy and light, soft and crunchy.
The meal started out with 3 amuse bouches, Goat Cheese pops with pumpernickel crumbs and a bit of truffles, excellent pungent, bright start to the meal. An oyster cooked in I believe apple juice, with small tapioca style pearls, another great bite. The last was one of the best bites i've ever had, a small cup of their smoked salmon, pickled cauliflower and a smokey truffle emulsion. Incredible mix of crunchy, bright, vinegary cauliflower with deep, smokey, oily salmon, and a thick, rich base to bring it together. Perfect food!
The first course was herring, my first time having it, but it is something I'll order it again for sure. The dish was elegant, the fish was not oily, fishy or salty and was matched perfectly by the brown butter (foam?) and little potatoes. The second course was bay scallops, another excellent dish. Great texture from the crunchy slivers of the dark bread, thinly sliced radishes and other veggies. The scallops themselves were deliciously sweet, and not overpowered by anything.
Course 3, a contender for the best of the night was an incredible mix of perfectly cooked sweet baby root vegetables with small crispy on the outside, juicy in the middle rounds of veal sweetbread, overflowing with black truffles shavings, outstanding dish! Course 4, another winner, was the Nordic Seafood Pot Au Feu. On my request and without any problem, they substituted this dish for the Cod dish that is usually on the tasting menu. Delicious, delicate soft fish with a think and silky, deep rich uni emulsion, shrimp and a few more tapioca style pearls.
There was a pallet cleanser of cucumber and lemon juice with sherbet, wonderful clean, cold, sip. The 5th course, the entree, was a tie for the best plate, the pork shoulder with heirloom apples, brousel sprouts (the only bite of the meal I did not personally enjoy) and a truffle sauce that coated our tongues and the plate like paint, which was playful and incredibly flavorful. Amazing pork dish! The 6th course, a cheese, fruit and sorbet, was a great mix of temperature, flavor, and texture with the crunchy bread again. We loved the strong funky cheese. Next was a sweet intermezzo, a small jar of cold berry soup with huckleberries and a yogurt foam. The final 7th course, the dessert, was a playful presentation of an egg in a basket, which was actual goat cheese with a milk chocolate coating. Beautifully designed and equally delicious, perfect ending to the meal, not to heavy or rich. Next up, the petit fours and a few small doughnuts with a caramel sauce. The doughnuts were ok, but the petit fours were excellent including both a macaroon and a Macaron, which i though was clever.
Expensive but with every penny, 7 courses and about 7 small additional bites/plates plus amazing bread. The food is playful and incredibly tasty. Great attentive, friendly service. They did not rush us, and the ambiance is relaxed and warm. I cannot wait to return! -
Review from Anna M.
Manhattan, NY
7/11/2011 1 Check-in Here
Aquavit was our first stop during Restaurant Week, and for $35.00/person, it was a fantastic deal (their regular 3-course prix-fixe menu is $84.00). The main dining room has a subdued grown-up ambiance. Overhead speakers play jazz showtunes through a moderately dimmed space, and (on a late Monday night) the conversations were hushed. The decor is simple and contemporary, though the wood paneling and muted color palette felt a little dated.
Perhaps my favorite part of the evening was the moment when our butter appeared, smeared atop a volcanic rock, and casually placed in the center of the table. It was hard not to stare. But then our trio of Scandinavian breads came by - a crunchy anise-seed cracker, a dense seeded brown bread, and a tender sourdough roll. These sort of set the cultural mood and I felt prepped for a night of authentic Northern cuisine.
Our amuse was a gruyere cheese puff, very light, and the cheese, very subtle. Then came my Matjes herring tartare, which was fantastic. It was really more of a herring salad - the raw fish was mixed with sour cream and dill - around which tiny spoonfuls of minced cucumber, beets, sour cream, egg yolk, red onion and fresh bread crumbs were laid out for incorporation into the tartare. Each bite was unique and intensely flavorful.
The blackened perch was less exciting (I kept trying to ignore the flavor of carbon) but the warm new potato salad was amazing, especially when coated in the gravy-like brown butter sauce. My meal finished with a plate of fresh berries, vanilla ice cream, and almond meringue. Lovely!
Aquavit's quiet, mature atmosphere, excellent service and interesting, well-executed cuisine makes it a great spot for business meals, etc. I'm not sure I'd return here for the everyday dinner after Restaurant Week. Nevertheless, I'd love to track down other Scandinavian outposts in the city for more tasty, dill-laden cuisine. -
Review from Hans B.
Manhattan, NY
7/15/2011
RW Week Review
RW menu was good, a little small, but good.
The atmosphere is great. The presentation of the food is superb.
Matjes herring tartare was great (must have)
I'm not a big fan of duck, so that was out of question. I had the blackend perch... I was a little scared when it arrived as it looked like someone threw the thing in a volcano (think charred chicken). I was pleasantly surprised when I had a bite, very light flavor, really enjoyed it.
Dessert was ok, presentation great, but taste just ok.
Overall, this is the type of place I can see myself visiting for RW again, but not sure if I would go there for any other occasion, nothing jumped out at me that would make me return. -
Review from Marshall M.
Brooklyn, NY
8/16/2011
Good Lord, there's a lot of Scandinavian restaurants in NYC nowadays. Back when I went to Aquavit, years back, I remember going there for brunch, discovering that they didn't have brunch, and eating a fish & meatball filled lunch instead.
It was a $55pp lunch, and it was A-ok.
What I didn't like as much was the decor, which must have been based off a 1960's person's imaginings of the future. -
Review from Jim U.
So, where you sit in the restaurant will significantly affect what you pay. This confusing fact was brought to our attention when we reviewed our reservation. If you are seated in the dining room, there are two tasting menus to choose from at $84/pp or $110/pp. If you are seated in the still generally nice bistro, you can order a la carte or have a prix fixe menu at $35/pp. Reviewing the menus, we noticed that many of the Scandinavian specialties were available in the bistro, and, further, the tasting menus in the dining room were pretty staid in selection and lacking in regional authenticity. The choice was an easy one, so we changed our reservation from the dining room to the bistro.
We decided to each have the 3-course prix-fixe at $35/pp and additionally ordered the herring sampler ($12) as an appetizer which was incidentally featured on the much more expensive tasting menu in the dining room. Oddly, this appetizer was served as our second course, so I will give the rundown in the order in which we received the food:
First Course: I chose the asparagus and leek soup over the mixed greens. There was definitely leeks in this mostly watery, slightly creamy soup, but I could not pick up any asparagus at all. The color was white too, which served to further highlight the missing ingredient. Less than crunchy croutons were added, presumably for textural contrast, but the effect was lost. They were probably swimming in my soup for too long. Not the most auspicious of beginnings.
Second Course: Our appetizer consisting of three different herrings served with a lone fingerling potato and two triangles of vasterbotten cheese. Said cheese was really delicious with a nuttiness that paired well with my Swedish pilsner. Each herring portion was robust, and the three samples proved to be a lot of food for the two of us to work through. Each portion was surprisingly tasty too. The sour cream one was interesting, but I really took to the one enhanced with Dijon mustard. There was a cuteness with the third selection involving bleak roe and a pearl onion. A satisfying course throughout.
Third Course: We both opted for the Scandinavian bouillabaisse, insisting on making the meal as Scandinavian as possible. How disappointing! Another watery soup without any deep flavor. The seafood wasn't cleaned very well either as I had no less than 3 moments where my teeth clamped down onto something crunchy and inedible. The scallop looked well seared, but it lacked taste. The mussels picked up no flavor at all and were a bit small. Nothing worthwhile here at all.
Fourth Course: Kladdkaka. While the first three courses came and went in a hurry, we waiting for nearly 40 minutes for this fourth course to show up. We became really impatient, and couldn't understand the reason for the delay. First we were rushed, and then we had to wait. And for what? A molten chocolate cake with a quenelle of ice cream, three sections of citrus, and three dots of citrus gelee? Cruise food. As staid as choices come.
The service was really uneven beyond just the timing. At one point a bus boy made a very quick motion to fill my mostly full glass of water and jerked the pitcher away in a hurry only to run off to another table. I saw only the plop of an ice cube and he was gone. How abrupt! Nothing was explained when it was presented either, and no reason was given for the delay.
Overall, charming dining room with a great view of the street, mostly lackluster food, and poor service. And you can have it starting at $110/pp or $35/pp, the choice is yours. I really couldn't recommend much here though, so I would pass all together on this madness. -
Review from Jason C.
7/26/2011 1 Check-in Here
I went here to end my tour of the July 2011 NYC Restaurant with high expectation and was nothing less than impressed.
The decor, the service
and The Food was amazing.
I highly recommend that you try the Duck Confit here. I've had duck confit elsewhere but this one was pretty high up there on the list of great ones. I also had the green tomato gazpacho which was has refreshing taste that was perfect balanced in flavor and texture.
For dessert the wild berries and cream was a treat, the cubed sugar for my coffee was a nice touch, and I must admit I am a sucker for well plated food composition.
I will not only return, I would highly recommend this place to anyone seeking to treat someone to a bite of elegance and flavor that they will savor. -
Review from Celia Z.
Cambridge, MA
8/16/2011
I came here for a business meeting. Thank goodness the business meeting was extremely interesting, because the food certainly did not justify the prices and elegant venue. I ordered off of the restaurant week menu. I started off with the gazpacho, and it was my first time every having gazpacho. This was pretty delicious--and cooled me down from the summer heat, but because it was my first time, I really did not have a dummy in which to compare it to. Of course, the one I had at my business meeting the next day really blew me away, so I guess Aquavit gazpacho got a little downgrade there. Just like our national debt.
I then ordered the summer squash gratin, which consisted of patty pans, smoked cremini, and chervil yogurt for my main dish. While the dish tasted good, it was nothing special. Personally I thought it was too lightly seasoned, and the food tasted as if it had been made in a rush; the spices were not perfectly marinated into the food; they had not penetrated through to truly form a complete flavor. For my sodium and flavor loving tongue (bring on the salt and MSG!), it was too little to satisfy my cravings for tasty food.
I finished off the meal with local strawberries, which included tarragon, almond meringue, and vanilla ice cream. That was honestly the best part of my meal, because the strawberries tasted so fresh, and were perfectly complemented with the tarragon and almond meringue (and little buttery shortcake pieces). The ice-cream was pure and delicious. One of my favorite dessert dishes, probably because it scores high on the cost-benefit analysis scale of taste and healthiness. Especially for dessert. -
Review from Sunayna R.
Manhattan, NY
8/28/2011
I went here for lunch and was only slightly impressed with the quality of the food. I have fonder memories of the restaurant, and had eaten here twice before, but I believe Aquavit has changed executive chefs recently, and it shows.
I ordered the herring trio to start and I gotta say - that was amazing. I never thought I'd like herring but Aquavit has converted me. The herring was fresh, so flavorful, and the accompanying cheese was sooooo good. I'd order this every single time I come back to the restaurant.
For an entree, I had the Swedish meatballs. It truly pains me to say this and I know I might be sacrificing some credibility here, but I prefer the Swedish meatballs at Ikea. The meatballs were dry and not very flavorful, the potato puree was runny. The pickled cucumbers were unimpressive. They were basically salted and peppered and then doused in some sort of watery liquid. I'm a sucker for lingonberries though, and the lingonberry compote was on point.
For dessert, I had the chocolate cake with dulce de leche cream and "citrus salad." First of all, the citrus salad comprised solely 3 tiny slivers of grapefruit, orange, and some unidentified citrus. So disappointing. The dulce de leche cream was ok - the consistency was good, but the flavor was not really there. The chocolate cake was tasty, but it was nothing more special than a warm brownie from any other bakery.
The service was ok, nothing spectaular. I guess that was the theme of the meal - ok, nothing spectacular. I just expected more. I may go back just for the herring though! -
Review from S M.
New York, NY
8/21/2011
You know it's really good when you think and rave about it days after.
I came here for lunch on restaurant week on a warm summer day. Service is top-notch. Ambience is minimalist and relaxing and fairly quiet. Food is amazing. I had the apple gaspacho soup and a white fish with potatoes. My friend had the duck which was pretty good. Dessert is what I kept thinking about - Stone Fruit. I don't know what it was or how it was made, but it was a very unusual combination of flavors. Highly recommend the place. I would definitely go back for another restaurant week. -
Review from Meghan P.
6/27/2011
This is one of the best meals I've ever had. We got the 7-course tasting menu, and while I don't really care for fish (except shellfish), I loved the smoked salmon, butter poached trout, and halibut with tomato plum sauce. I still daydream about that smoked salmon; it just melts in your mouth.
In addition to the fish, highlights were hay smoked sweetbreads, which were crispy and cooked to perfection, and the lamb that was done 3 ways: sliced with jus, dumpling on mustard greens, and sausage with mustard sauce.
We had opted to get the wine pairing, since it was a special birthday dinner, and they were NOT shy about the pours. These weren't little mini tastes, they really gave you a nice healthy glass with EACH course.
The service was professional, and the setting was elegant, but comfortable. -
Review from Esther Y.
Brooklyn, NY
8/24/2011
Went for restaurant week summer 2011.
It was really good. the appetizer, main and dessert was all very good portion. Least favorite out of three courses was dessert. but nevertheless, it's definitely worth checking out. -
Review from Miki H.
Honolulu, HI
8/3/2011
I would have given 5 stars if not for two things. First, there was an assistant waiter (for lack of a better term) who kept pacing back and forth around the area we were seated in and kept staring at us with a stone faced expression. It was creepy and unsettling to say the least. Second, the Swedish meatballs were not perfection. That might sound harsh but unfortunately with this being the only Scandanavian restaurant I've been to stateside, my expectations were high.
That being said, the house smoked salmon that was served chilled with a grainy mustard was phenomenal. It was one of the most extraordinary bites of food I have ever had. The fried goat cheese balls served warm with thyme infused honey was heavenly in its own right and I would go back just for that. Amazing! -
Review from Chris H.
3/26/2011 11 photos
It wasn't the service, which was unfailingly polite and attentive, as befitting the reputation of the restaurant. Nor was it the decor, which is impressively spacious and grand, and starkly modern.
It wasn't the price, which at $110 for a 7 course tasting menu - including 2 amuse bouche's, an intermezzo and petite fours - was more than fair. Included in this price, was also a swab of spring onion infused whipped butter, which applied on the good hearty rye bread, was satisfying enough for a meal in itself.
It wasn't the presentation - Chef Marcus Jernmark's dishes were meticulously yet playfully plated. Any shmoe who's picked up a knife or mandoline and attempted to hack away at an onion could appreciate the surgical precision that was necessary to perfectly brunois the onions and beets which went into a course of matjes herring.
This is presentation at the Paul Liebrandt, Bill Telepan, Daniel Humm level playing field. "This is fucking whimsical" I reveled in a hushed voice as a beautifully presented and simply done farm egg was placed before us. A house aged steak tartare was almost too pretty to eat - and indeed, I wish I hadn't, as the steak was off-putting - gummy, stringy and offensively funky from the aging process.
But what it was - a consistent imbalance of flavors. Too heavy at times, like the clunky dish of cloying Prast cheese with fruit and nut bread. Or the unbearably bland and oppressively opulent veal cheek blanquette. The flavors of a perfectly cooked scallop choucroute was stifled by an overwhelmingly strong side of sauerkraut.
And at times, the flavors barely rose above a whisper. The aforementioned Matjes herring could have been saved from mediocrity by a squeeze of lemon. The salmon tartare, like that quiet weird kid that sits in the back of the classroom, could shine with a touch of salt and acid.
And at times, the food was flat out inedible, such as the aforementioned aged beef tartare - one of the egregious miscues i've ever tasted in my forays into fine dining.
Yes, Aquavit is a beautiful restaurant serving exquisite food, but as the saying goes - you'll not want to scratch the surface, for this beauty is only skin deep.Listed in: Star F*cking, Holy Mackerel!
-
Review from Judy W.
Manhattan, NY
7/30/2011
Oh don't hate me - I am NOT being too critcal with my review for this place.
Under the recommendation of a friend - I decided to take my boyfriend out for his first restaurant week experience. Nice decor and I must say the lounge area was very interesting. But with reservations at 9pm, we had arrived early at 8:50pm and were not seated until 9:20pm. 30 minute wait? Seriously? SMH.
The overall dinner experience wasn't fantastic but it wasn't horrible. Our courses were served very timely.
Appetizers were wayyyy too salty for our taste. My boyfriend eats EVERYTHING like a vaccum and somehow he managed to stay clear away from eating my Herring Tartar which was - not our taste. His Cedar Ham tasted like a Cubano - with no bread. EHH.
Entrees were amazing though so it definitely lifted my mood. I had the blackend perch as my friend recommended was good with the buttery sauce and OH.MY.GAWD. - the potatoes were so delicious. My boyfriend had the duck confit which was pretty good as well! I was definitely happier by the end of that course.
Desserts - we both had the macerated stone fruits. He loved it and I was so-so about it. Maybe because I expected dessert to be sweeter than it was...maybe I just like sweet things...should go judge for yourself since there's only 2 options to chose from.
I really wish I had a good experience to agree with what my friend had said about this restaurant but overall I know, "Meh. I've experienced better," as those 2 stars really indicate. I'm just saying... -
Review from Michael M.
New York, NY
6/25/2011
Some people do not like Scandinavian food. I am not one of those people.
I have wanted to go to Aquavit for quite some time. I went to Copenhagen this past summer and when I had Smørrebrød for lunch, it was quite an experience for me. You see, I am one of those people who inhales his food. I usually make a plate of enchiladas disappear in about three minutes, and although i know it's kind of embarrassing, it's all I've ever done. BUT, when I had Danish cuisine for the first time, with the first bite, I let the food tarry a while on my tongue. It was strange.
AND THEN it hit me...when I eat spicy food, i can taste everything instantly. That might be why DRINK Fra diavolo sauce rather than let it spend any time in my mouth. I take, I taste, I swallow. All gone. Scandinavian food does not work that way. The flavors are all very mild, but undeniably delightful. They don't hit you like a ton of bricks. You must invite them, allow them to appear, and allow yourself to recognize them. No, this is not chicken tikka masala, but it's just white bread either.
I had mentioned to one or two of my friends a long time ago that I had a really strong desire to go to Aquavit. Well, one thing led to another, and they INSISTED on taking me here for my birthday. It should also be said that none of us have any money, so this was really an extraordinary gesture.
A few of us walked in and sat near the bar in the very heavy, yet sleek, furniture. The special for the day was a flight of Aquavits with herring prepared three ways or something or another. We chose to sample the horseradish, dill-coriander, and mango-chili-lime. They were all really tasty and elegant. As one of my friends remarked, the atmosphere of the whole place was "very civilized."
When we were seated, they brought out all this amazing bread and butter. So i went into Dyson-mouth mode again. Enough of that. I had a midtown martini and the seared chatham cod. The martini was refreshing and ethereal. I ordered the cod because it's made with leeks and I love leeks. The leek flavor was really pretty weak but the dish as a whole was just so rich and rewarding. My friends had-if memory serves me right-Mussels, the Scottish Salmon Burger, Smorgasbord, and...and...memory fail.
But everything was good.
My friends are the best. Thanks Karen S., Ben L., Ann L., Christina L, and Jami O! -
Review from Laura K.
6/3/2011
**CAFE REVIEW**
Although the menu has changed (albeit a little for the worse) over the years, the cafe/bistro is still on my short list as a favorite place to get a pseudo-fancy, well priced dinner.
I rarely order from the drink menu (I'm usually a beer and wine at dinner drinker), but their drinks list is great. The white cosmopolitan is deadly and a 'must' order for me whenever I go.
The schmorgasbord plate is my ideal meal at any restaurant, delectable bites of all the best on the menu. I miss the meatball, I miss when the potato and cheese were not one of the original nine bites, but sweet side additions, but this place still leaves me fulfilled.
For dessert, you can still ask nicely for the artic circle which is always a crowd pleaser (goat cheese parfait, with this amazing sorbet).
I'll agree that service can sometimes be a bit slow/spotty, but the servers at the restaurant have always been nothing short of great -- attentive, helpful, friendly. -
Review from S S.
New York, NY
10/24/2011
Ate dinner here many years ago. Service was excellent as was the room. Received several "gifts" which were quite good and much better than our mains.
Overall bland, tasteless, just don't get this place. -
Review from nick l.
New York, NY
6/27/2011 1 Check-in Here
Scandinavian Brunch buffet blew me away.
Not sure how many plates of Pickled herring, Gravlax, Meatballs I had... Let's just say enough to give me a stomach ache later on that day.
We had a couple of Aquavit shots as well. (One was the chili infused and had some serious SPICE). They were ok. -
Review from Ruth L.
Parsippany, NJ
7/13/2011
Went there for restaurant week (lunch). Was originally seated in a puddle of water but one of the waiters kindly moved us to a more comfortable location promptly. Ordered the cedar smoked ham, duck confit, and local strawberries. Not a huge fan of the cedar smoked ham - probably because of the horseradish mustard...maybe I need to learn how to read. The duck was tasty, especially with the corn, cherries, and whatever greens they added and finally, the local strawberries were aesthetically pleasing and sweet along with the almond meringue.
Overall, pretty good but I definitely wouldn't pay the normal price. -
Review from Jasz L.
Astoria, NY
3/24/2011
It was a birthday lunch celebration, and for my first time trying Scandinavian meal, I was quite excited. Looking forward and settled in midtown east, and the surrounding was enjoyable to stroll down on Park Ave, I kept an open tummy to take in this full experienced. Beautiful setting and it was a crawfish feast luncheon they had offered. Of course, being from California and we have plenty of live crawfish restaurant, and eaten in New Orleans; we decided on a 3 course. We ordered
HERRING TRIO three varieties of herring, vasterbotten cheese, fingerling potato
SWEDISH MEATBALLS potato purée, pickled cucumber, lingonberries, cream sauce
Beets, raw salmon corn chowder
Tomato and salmon'
ARCTIC CIRCLE goat cheese parfait, lingonberry "vargtass" sorbet, salted pistachios
BUDAPEST CAKE hazelnut praline mousse, chocolate ganache, orange supreme, vanilla ice cream
Chocolate mousse
Our meal was very colorful and enjoyable. My favorite thing of the meal was our desserts. We received an extra one for the birthday celebration. Their desserts won me over, service was stable and in good time for lunch. -
Review from Jason P.
Manhattan, NY
7/26/2011
I went to Aquavit with my girlfriend and two friends during restaurant week. We each ordered from the restaurant week menu, which offered a three course meal for $35. Although we didn't feel like sampling the aquavits, we did order a nice bottle of Bordeaux for under $40. I would say that's a pretty good deal for a restaurant of Aquavit's caliber.
The decor is really nice in the restaurant: It has a 1970s Swedish minimalism quality (think sleak hard woods and sharp angles). Additionally, they serve the butter for the bread on a volcanic rock, which is somewhat pretentious but I thought it was unique and fit the ambiance.
I had some sort of ham and vegetables with mustard appetizer. My description, although apt, does not do the dish justice. The flavors were all very harmonic, simple and delicious. My main course was a duck confit with cherries and some sort of risotto-like carb. It was fantastic. The duck was cooked very nicely, and the flavors paired nicely. Finally, dessert was utterly fantastic. I had mascerated stone fruits (plums and nectarines) with a subtle fruit gelatin and long pepper ice cream. Each simple part of the dessert combined with the others to create a synergy of transcendent flavor.
Honestly, it was an amazing experience.
I would give the place an honest 4.5 stars. My policy is that I round up or down half-stars for Yelp, depending on soft factors. Since the tasting menus typically start around $80-120 per person, I am going to give Aquavit 4 stars. Although everything was amazing, I am not sure it would be worth that loot. If money is not an issue, I would definitely recommend this place.
