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Category: American (New) [Edit]
Neighborhood: West VillageChristopher St (1)
W 4th St (A, C, E, B, D, F, V)
9th Street (PATH)
Mon-Thu. 5:30 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Fri-Sat. 5:30 p.m. - 11:30 p.m.
Sun. 11:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Sun. 5:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.
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Finally came here during restaurant week with my 2 favorite friends and my brother (as my date, how LAME!)
I was not dressed enough to come to this place, when I came inside to the restaurant, There was a gentleman playing the Piano live and I was already giving a 5 STAR for that!
Love the decor in this place, 2 floors, a bar and live Piano music. Everyone well dressed and the place is pretty Dimmed inside (Sooo romantic!). The hostess seated us on the first floor, and it was pretty busy on a Thursday Night. Waiter handed us the menu, and there was the regular and restaurant week menu.
I ordered the beef wellington and my brother ordered seafood so we can try both of them. Food is awesome here! and at the end, they even treated us for extra mini truffles (yum Yum) after the dessert.
1) Decor
2) Food
3) Staff
Three things are all 5 stars!, But next time when I come must not be my brother!!
I had a very pleasant meal here. We had chose the tasting menu because we wanted to taste a little of everything this restaurant offers and having heard such good things about this place, an easy chose at that!
The first bites of the Foie Gras Torchon were our first steps in this chef's very good tasting: foie gras, dorade, squab and beef; each dish a nice composition of flavors, presented in elegant fashion. Intermezzo, followed by dessert and last but not least our champagne by the glass. We met the chef and he expressed some eager changes emphasizing flavor, styles and presentation.
A good value for your dollar, the complete tasting was a big meal. We ate well and both of us talked about it for the rest of the night. The dining room is relaxed with a beautiful green garden lit up brite. And, for that candle lit romantic feeling, "One if by land, two if by sea."
I had read that One If By Land was one of NY's most romantic restaurants, so my fiancé and I went the day after Valentine's Day this year. It WAS very romantic, and the food was amazing. My fiancé had a steak which he said was cooked to perfection, and I had a great piece of fish and for dessert a sliver of key lime cheesecake that I thoroughly enjoyed. There were candles, roses adorning every table, and lush carpets and paintings, and a live piano player downstairs whose echoes we caught faintly drifting up to our table.
Not to mention the set menu was extremely good value! Go there, take a hot date, and be wooed!
Tried to find a nice place in the village for dinner with my parents in town last night. We went to Gramercy Tavern a few weeks ago and really enjoyed it, but it was booked full last night. Instead we settled on One If By Land Two If By Sea. We walked in and immediately felt a little overheated, too toasty considering yesterday was a rather pleasant day. There was a piano player playing and we were seated upstairs. The upstairs room was filled with couples - many celebrating birthdays. Each table had a white tablecloth, a candle and a flower. The candle and flower were on the same side of the table and a leaf from the flower breifly caught on fire so we moved it to the other side. Service from the waiter and the rest of the staff was really good. The restaurant itself seemed a little stuffy - Mom said it felt more like New England than New York. Let's move on to the food...
The prix fixe menu for $78 includes an appetizer, an entree and a dessert. We all received an amuse-bouche of fennel salad with apple emulsion and spiced coconut. Dad and I thoroughly enjoyed it (best mixed all together), while Mom took a few tastes and passed on it.
There were three types of bread to choose from: soft roll, sunflower crusted roll and cheese bread. I tried the cheese bread and the soft roll and both were very good.
Here were our orders and my thoughts on each:
Appetizer:
Me: Heirloom Tomato Salad burrata cheese, frissée, arugula, basil, virgin olive oil. This was really good. There were orange and red heirloom tomatoes (really fresh) and the cheese was soft and tasty.
Dad: Tuna Crudo sea beans, wasabi foam, caviar. Tried a few bites of this and thought it was good.
Mom: Butternut Squash Risotto one year aged acquello rice, wild black trumpet mushrooms, beet greens, fontina cheese. This is normally an entree but they put a smaller order together for Mom as an appetizer. I thought it was the winner of the three. I often order risotto and find it to be under or overcooked. This was perfect.
Entree:
Me: Roasted Breast Of Duck fregola pasta, hearts of palm, blueberry purée, lentil chip, raspberry salad. Came out undercooked. I sent it back and when it came back it was tough. Didn't really enjoy it at all.
Mom: Rack Of Lamb fava beans, chanterelles, crispy mint, rutabaga purée, lamb jus. Lamb came out rare (Mom ordered it medium). She sent it back and it came out much better. We found it to be good, but not great.
Dad: Oven-Roasted Chicken Breast mushroom velouté, fried eggplant, cilantro aïoli, wild spinach, soft polenta. Came out cold. Sent back to be reheated. Tasted pretty good when it came back.
Dessert:
Me: Pumpkin Creme Brulee ginger bread, cereal ice cream. This was really, really good. The creme brulee came more in a 1 inch by 4 inch rectangle on a plate than in a traditional round ramekin. The ginger bread with it was a more like gingersnap crackers - a nice balancing touch. The cereal ice cream was different and interesting. It tasted just like the milk at the end of a sweet sugary cereal bowl - I wonder if that's how they actually make it.
Dad: Ice Cream & Sorbet assorted seasonal flavors. He opted for a few scoops of coffee ice cream. I didn't try it, but I heard it was good.
Mom: Chocolate Cashew Mousse Cake chocolate cake, banana sorbet, chocolate soil, cashew wafer, chocolate cashew cream. I found Mom's chocolate cake to be good. I usually like the mix of chocolate with bananas, but found the banana sorbet to have a really nasty flavor.
All in all I would say the amuse-bouche, bread, appetizer and dessert were great. The entrees were less than desirable (perhaps one of us should have ordered the famed Beef Wellington, but we are going to STK tonight). I'd consider coming back at some point, but the atmosphere wasn't really my cup of tea.
This is one of those places where they promise you a meat entree, but their cuisine is SO haute that 95% of what's on your plate is whipped vegetable matter. "Roasted chicken" at this place consists of three small rings (RINGS, hollowed out in the middle, not medallions) of thigh meat (the worst part of the chicken) that were fatty on one side and dry on the other. The total weight of the low-quality meat on my plate wouldn't even be 2 ounces. Nice scam.
Maybe this is your idea of eating dinner, but I was crushed. I had been sold this dump as a "meat lover's paradise." It made for a lousy anniversary dinner.
They had no Irish whiskey, at all. The single-malt Scotch they served tasted like cough medicine and no, it was not LaPhroig. The tables are so close together that I had to listen to the Republi-dope at the next table go through an idiotic right-wing union-bashing tirade that left my appetite in the past.
If you like haughty-cuisine nonsense in all its superficial, callow "glory," I guess that's your thing. But even gastronomic snootiness cannot explain or excuse serving customers meat of such a low quality that it should have been left on the butcher's floor.
One of my very favorite NYC restaurants -- been coming to Oneth (say One If a few times, and you see how it comes out)
But seriously been coming down here on an average of 1-2x per year since they opened -- would love to come more, but it's not your everyday type of spot, unless your trust fund is doing well.
Lately, however, I see One If trying to do their part with a "lower cost -$78) Prix Fixe and a $30 GC for Yelpers -(not sure of the restrictions, I didn't cash in on this one - boo)
I like that, and would up my stars to 4.5 if I could . Any restaurant of this caliber who doesn't have a 'tude, is A-OK in my book.
But, it's about the food, and the food is VERY good here. I usually go Two If here, and order Fish, especially now that most of my time is spend Land- Locked.
This last dinner which included a Tuna Dish, and a Sea Bass was as beautiful to look at, as to eat.
To those Nay Sayers -- While I've never eaten here during Restaurant Week, I've eaten in enough terrific restaurants to know, Never, judge a restaurant by this week, especially the high ticket ones.
I wish Restaurants would get that it's not just penny pinchers who go out during this week, but people like us who like to TRY restaurants that we would normally not try during the year.
I believe 1 If, falls in this category, and thus doesn't put out the "Good China" so to speak -- during this week, they're not dotting the Good Truffle Oil, or the $200lb Grey Salt.
Just my theory, but this week has become my Non - Restaurant Week. as meals this week just aren't as good ---
Sorry for the digression, but I felt that this restaurant shouldn't be judged on this one week, I've had too many great meals over the years.
The restaurant is pleasant, their food is better-than-bar food and they use surprisingly good ingredients for salads and entrees. I definately recommend this place.
Been there and done this place many times (thank you Goldman Sachs expense account)...took my wife (now X)...took my favourite girlfriends...love it...love it...love it..
If you care about a person take them here ...plain and simple
Came here for our 2nd anniversary. It lives up to its billing as an ultra-romantic place. The service was pretty good, and the food was good too. We got the roasted duck breast, and the chicken breast. The latter was maybe the juiciest chicken breast ever. I recommend this place, but it's definitely a bit more refined/formal than my usual taste in terms of environment.
My husband and I went to One if By Land for restaurant week. We'd heard a lot about the romantic atmosphere and top notch food, and I have to say, we were slightly disappointed.
Our table was mere inches away from the tables on either side of us, so the atmosphere wasn't remotely romantic.
The food was also disappointing. Granted, it was restaurant week, so I'm not sure they were bringing their A game, but I ordered a chicken dish that was bland, dry and forgettable.
I feel like people say they enjoyed this place so much because they paid such an absolutely ridiculous amount of money for the food (and experience) that they need to somehow justify it.
On entering the restaurant (which looks quite suspect from the outside) there is a bar and small seating area. The maitre d' is no where to be seen. I walk cautiously toward the back in the hopes of finding one. And, after asking a man standing near a back wall (who informs me he does not work there, I am directed to a desk. Once the maitre d' seems to be finished giving me a rude stare, I give her my reservation. She points to a small couch and tells me to wait (I find this strange because, not only was she incredibly rude to me, but the majority (3/4) of my party is here and we are exactly at our reservation time). Eventually we are seated and given menus. To look at their menus, visit their website.
The bread was entirely too salty (and they seemed to keep pushing it at my friends and I). My appetizer (the wild mushroom soup) was ok. My entree (the butternut squash risotto) was not very good at all. It tasted as though it had been prepared the day before and left out to decay. I will give admit, the deserts were incredible. My friends and I each ordered a different desert and sampled from one another. All of them were very good.
Our entrees took entirely too long to arrive, I wondered if the chef had planned on growing the risotto. Our waiter didn't seem to know anything about the food as anything we asked yielded the answer "It's difficult to describe, but it is good." The only thing he did seem to know was the basic meat preparation and which dishes were vegetarian. I was then surprised (and a bit annoyed) when he brought the cheese and dessert list. He informed my friends that if we wanted cheese we should not order a specific cheese, but rather "let the chef choose." None of us were opting for cheese, but the point that we would not be permitted to even choose our own food at about $100 per person seemed a bit suspect to me.
They didn't seem to have food service down, either. throughout the evening we were served from the left and the right and cleared in the same fashion. We were reached over multiple times. One service person asked if I wanted more bread, and when I didn't he ask why. Another kept dropping things on the floor.
I will never go there again, and unless you have too much money in your pocket, it's really not worth it.
Just an all around incredible dining experience. The atmosphere, the staff, everything was perfect.
I'm only 23, and I feel I've peaked culinary-wise too early. It's all downhill from here for me.
The Foie Gras and Wellington were outstanding. The desserts were creative and delicious as well.
This place is magnificent in every single way, and everybody needs to experience this at least once.
My old boyfriend took me here for one of our anniversaries. It was super expensive and (for the first time in our relationship) he paid the whole bill. He surprised me with the whole thing, telling me to get decked out.
The food was superb. The atmosphere was adult and fancy and it made me feel high society.
Definitely give it a try, especially if you have the cash.
The British are coming!
And I know why; this restaurant is the most romantic place I've ever dined in and I can see why so many say it's one of the most romantic in New York.
I took my girlfriend here for her birthday. As we get off our taxi and came into the restaurant, we were greeted and seated promptly. The restaurant is very dim, the tables have long candles and roses, and a set of silverware that you won't know what to do with. The live piano playing really sets the mood here.
We were lucky enough to be around New York during Restaurant Week so we got a really great deal on dinner! Standouts of the three course meals between me and my girlfriend were the watermelon salad, chicken ballentine, nutella cake, and blueberry composition. And I must not forget the Beef Wellington, each bite was melting in my mouth it was so tender and the thin crispy pastry added so much more. We even received some very acidic tasty salad compliments of the chef!
And compliments to One if By Land, TIBS, for giving my hunnie a terrific dining experience on her special day.
Even though I went there months ago during the previous Restaurant Week, I'm not doing anything pressing now so I figured I'd review this restaurant. I went here with my now ex-girlfriend. Obviously, we had heard a lot of good things about it, so we were curious to see if it lived up to the hype. And, I certainly think it did.
When we walked into the space, I instantly noticed why the restaurant has gotten such rave reviews for it's interior. It definitely embodies an old-world charm, which I definitely liked.
As for the food, it was delicious. I don't recall what we ordered, but I definitely remember that I thoroughly enjoyed it's taste and presentation. And, the waiter service was on-point.
Overall, I especially recommend this place for couples. I think it's a really nice place to go for a special occasion.
I came here during restaurant week because it would otherwise involve throwing down a lot of money to try a place I was curious about but not dying to try.
Walking in I was immediately blown away by the decor of the bar and main dining room. The place is gorgeous and makes me want to break out old vocab words like "sumptuous" and "opulent". However, "over the top" and "stuffy" were at the top of my mind as well. The place is beautiful but it reeks of "50th anniversary dinner" and the obvious choice for someone proposing with too much money and too little creativity.
We ate in a side room that was far less ornate and impressive but nice non the less. The food was good for the restaurant week prices, but if the full menu reflected the same quality I'd be let down. Service was attentive and satisfactory if not a wee bit cold.
I'd say in the end this place has its uses. If you have occasion to impress someone with over the top surroundings, when the atmosphere is more important than the food, this will do nicely.
Sorry I don't dig this place and too tired to write about the same old same old kind of places. Not going back.. wasn't bad but overated for sure. Almost burnt my hair by the open candle light at the edge of each tables which seems fire hazard.
One star originally but added one star for sea salt blue(!) Jello cube in Watermelon salad and excellent cheesecake made with goat cheese but crashed by strong Berry current. And the attentive waiter. Not that hostess who is a super snob. Excuse me this is not a Russian Tea Room.
Actually, One star (if - edited) By Seafood dish Two Stars (if-edited again) by Land(steak) dish.
Nice high-ceilinged dining room centered around a huge chandelier. Sitting near the back, we had a nice view of the garden. The brunch was at best average and the waiter did not seem to know too much about the desserts. I we guessed and ended up with a decent blueberry parfait. I'm thinking the dinner is better at this place but I'll have to find out some other time.
As a Revolutionary-era history buff, I had long wanted to dine in the townhouse once owned by the man who shot and killed Alexander Hamilton.
Here in 1834, says wikipedia, Aaron Burr suffered a debilitating bowel movement which rendered him immobile. It's tempting to parlay that historical tidbit into a critique of the food but, while unremarkable, wasn't bad.
The decor was impressive, the service attentive, the food well prepared but wholly unmemorable and the clientèle seemed to be composed entirely of anniversary-celebrating suburbanites.
Another restaurant week try. I really enjoyed the vibe of One If By Land... From the open candle on each table to the piano player at the entrance, the mood was set for an intimate evening.
(Granted, I was there with two girlfriends, but hey, I would go back with a date too :-P)
The space is large but is broken off into different rooms, making the dining space more cozy. We were in the room just up the stairs. With low-hanging tree branches in front of the windows, I can imagine this would be a great room during the winter with a little snow on the branches.
(One If By Land... brought out the poet in moi)
Our server treated us well, was knowledgeable about the wine list, and was attentive all night. The food was delicious (though I wish I'd had my friend's steak. Looked amazing), the setting was lovely, and everyone had a great time.
For a special occasion, I would definitely come here.
Right in the middle of the block, you will find a restaurant disguised as an old carriage house. But once you enter, the soft piano music and elegant lighting tell you that this is not just your average dining experience.
YAH restaurant week! $35 per person gets you choice of 3 apps, 3 entrees and 3 desserts. The normal price for the Pre-Frix combo is $78 per person and from the food, I think its money well spent.
We awakened our tastebuds with a light mixture of sliced pears, peaches and priscutto. The sweetness and the salty-ness were perfectly matched. The menu can be viewed on the restaurant website so I'll stick with the ambiance and my recommendations. Downstairs seemed to be for couples while upstairs was all about the bigger parties. Candlelit tables, soft music and attentive waiter service made this experience very comfortable.
Pre-Fix Summer Menu.
The gazpacho was tasty and the watermelon "salad" (consisting of 2 pieces of red watermelon, 2 pieces of yellow watermelon, some strong goat cheese and a couple of cubes of mint jelly) was refreshing.
The beef was perfectly cooked at medium well and the french roasted fennel and radish were matched in flavor. The chicken was served over a bed of soft polenta and asparagus while wrapped around a basil mixture. Both were good but the beef was the better of the two.
The mascarpone cheesecake was divine and one of the best cheesecakes I've ever had. And I've had cheesecake! It was served with a pineapple granite (aka pineapple slushie), a black currant puree and a crunchy texture (cheesecake was slightly toasted on top). The Blueberry composition was also great. My suggestion is to take the layered piece one section at a time at first to discover the different flavors than go all together.
Make this a romantic night for two. Experience some new flavors and fine dining in the city that never sleeps. Then walk up to 7th Ave, swing a left and stroll through the streets of some other NY spots and enjoy the company you're with.
No, no, no. I don't belong here...
Besides the waiters who were exceptional..... nothing remarkable at One if.. Two if...
Very nice welcome by the live jazz piano music with the first step. But this feeling fall apart very fast with the woman welcoming us. Somehow I feel kind of snob attitude.
Intimante ambience, soflty candle ligths, but after detailed inspection I found a very very classic atmnosphere/deco that I didn't like. It looks to be designed for pple in their 60.
But, all this is a particular impression and subjective, is all about your preferences.
So.. what about the real business...
We went for dinner during Summer Restaurant Week. In my opinion this special menus have to represent what restaurant can offer. Don't care about portions size, but the presentation, the taste, the chef style... yes, I care, and it's critical for me to decide if I'm coming back.
3 appetizers options: Tomato Gazpacho, Watermelon Salad or Mushroom Tart. The Watermelon Salad was interesting, mostly because come along a mint jelly that I founded very original. Watermelon pieces, arugula, olives and feta cheese. Nice combination but it wasn't combine at all. It was a group of ingredients put all together in same plate. I didn't like the Musrhoom Tart, but my friends did. So maybe my personal taste. I find out completely hide mushroom flavor, all that you could taste was the sauce. very nice presentation though.
As main entrees, we order either the Pan Seared Red Snapper or the Grilled Bavette Steak. Again I didn't get the fusion of the components. Some of the vegetables sides was really nice: the pearl onions with the steak or the baby fennel... really god. But, the confit tomato,it wasn't seasoned? and the black eyed beans, I have to say was awful. The meat was just ok, I can't say it was good. And not tasty at all. And the fish.. so bad. Again not flavor,dry and overcooked
The desserts was good. Nothing remarkable but very good. I really like the Blueberry Composition
The drinks menu is nice. We order some cocktails which wasn't outstanding but better that regular.
Could I have a different experience with the regular menu? I don't know and I don't care. Because is not only that it wasn't exceptional, it was bad in general.
Food: The food that IS present on your plate is terrific. Don't expect quantity here (you'd be stupid anyway) but enjoy the quality of the food. Ingredients are fresh, texture of meats are correct, everything seasoned well, and plating is done nicely. Started with gazpacho which had a nice creamy feel to it. Then proceeded to the steak and snapper. Steak was cooked true to order. Hate how I have to order medium-rare elsewhere just to get medium. Snapper was tender and treated well. No fishy odor there. Now, to say I was blown away into pieces by the food would be false. We simply got what we paid for. I appreciate that and would easily come back again for another dinner or try the brunch.
The dessert on the other hand, pleasantly surprised us. I had a strawberry cheesecake and my girl had this mixed-berry concoction. Every bite was packed with the original sweetness and fruitiness of the fruit and the cheesy/sugary (sweetness versus acidity of fruits were balanced well) medium that gelled everything together. Don't assume that both desserts were hordes of sugar cajoling my sweet tooth into saying nice things, instead it was refined, balanced, and attention to detail was evident.
Drink: Just came from Blind Tiger a block away, so it was hard to get our drinking mood on here.
Service: Friendly service. What needed to be done was done. Nothing outstanding though.
Ambiance: Nice dimly lit space with seating on two floors. We got the top, so probably avoided the extra chatter coming from the bar. Low volume convos going on with light music enveloping the second floor. Good place for a date, not loud or overbearing by any stretch. Seating was comfortable but the table cloths were too damn long (stepped all over it). Business casual dress code is the word, but I came in jeans.
I'm going to start off by saying the atmosphere definitely lives up to it's hyppe. Absolutely gorgeous- with the live piano, the cozy comfort, beautiful garden, and fabulous aura. It is definitely one of the best romantic spots to take a date to. They will be impressed!
But of course the most important thing when going to a restaurant- the food and service. To start off we had to choose from three types of bread- and honestly i was quite disappointed. I tried 2 of the three and both of them were dry- almost stale, and lacked of flavor and "bready-ness".
For appetizer I had the special of the night, which was a quail dish. It was perfectly cooked, but I must say it was a bit too salty for my taste. The quail egg was definitely delish, the bones were kind of uncomfortable to work around, but overall it was just okay, mostly because of how salty it was. My boyfriend had the soft shell crab dish, which was absolutely divine. At first the plate looked a little too complicated, a lot going on. But once i tried everything on the plate, it was just right. The acidity from the pickled sauce went just right with the texture and flavor of the crab.. i loved this dish. (i wish i had it for myself!)
The beef wellington I must say.... lives up to the hype. Absolutely delicious!!! my mouth is watering thinking about it right now.. The first thing i thought when it came out was, "wow... i can smell that puff pastry from a mile away." After I tasted it, the foie gras sauce sabayon was just.. perfect. It was rich but the different vegetables on the side helped to balance and cut that richness. Fantastic dish, i would do it again. But too bad that was my boyfriend's dish.
I chose to have the braised pork belly. This dish, gave me mixed feelings. Its one of those dishes where, when you first try it.. absolutely AMAZINg. It's like, the crunchiness from the pork skin, and richness from the artichoke puree, the sweet n sour from the kumquats, and softness from the actual pork.. it was just really really amazing. But also, its one of those dishes where the first couple bites are just amazing, but then you get a little tired of it.. Frankly it was a bit too rich after a while, and then it came to the point where i could not finish it. I left about 1/3 of the plate left (and trust me.. that really NEVER happens). But its one of those dishes that inspired me and gave me lots of idea for my own cooking.. Would I order it again? probably not.. but it was definitely an interesting dish.
Dessert was okay. I mean its really hard to say because me and my boyfriend.. both of us is really about the main dishes. We aren't huge dessert fans. To me dessert can be very similar in most "nice" restaurants. Unless its something extraordinary and unique, i'm probably not going to remember it. So.. for dessert.. it wasnt that memorable but it wasn't bad either. It was just.. dessert. what can i say.
Service was EXCELLENT, loved our waiter he was awesome. Overall, you should dfeinitely check it out to see for yourself, I don't know if I would go again in the near future, just because i'd rather check out other places, but it was a great experience and somewhere one should at LEAST try once!!! TAKE YOUR DATE!! she/he will be happy!
Got engaged here but must admit it's a little hit and miss. Was served a martini in a Collins glass last time... never happened before.
First of all, I need to clarify that I am not a true "foodie". I am just far too picky in what I am willing to taste.
I do, however, love to eat. I adore good service. I recognize high-quality ingredients. I like a nice atmosphere.
One if by Land offered all of these in addition to the most important consideration for a recently-unemployed teacher: a good deal. If these prices were all year-round, five stars would be a no-brainer.
As this was my first restaurant season in NYC, I wanted to check out some of the gems that I knew I would not be able to afford otherwise.
The RW menu offered enough variety for the pickiest of palates--mine. I enjoyed the tomato gazpacho soup which was loaded with delicious lobster. Not heavily seasoned, the quality of the ingredients was obvious and the taste was refreshing.
For my entree, I tried the roasted chicken ballentine. I do love basil and pine nuts and they were the perfect foil to the still-juicy chicken. The polenta was delicious--I wish it turned out as well when I make it at home!
For dessert, I had the Nutella cake. I could have eaten another dozen or so servings and still been captivated by the novelty of the texture and flavor combination.
Our server was attentive and the courses arrived in a timely fashion without any sense of being rushed.
I enjoyed a glass of house Pinot Grigio with the meal. A simple wine, since I do have simple tastes, which was a refeshing balance to the appetizer and entree combination.
My tablemates sampled the other items off the restaurant menu, enjoying the mushroom tart and raving about the blueberry composition.
I would love to visit again to try items off the standard menu. Perhaps once I get a job. Or a generous date. Or a winning lottery ticket.
As for now, I will bide my time until I can enjoy the offerings for the next Restaurant Week.
Others have commented on the food, which certainly is good. Here's some more color on the place: I came during restaurant week, and was glad for it, because I could see that the menu was normally super expensive, but you get what you pay for by way of excellent service, and great atmosphere - which feels like an upscale colonial 18th century inn.
Make sure you dress nicely, and don't come with rowdy friends. I found the crowd here to be a bit older and stuffier, although there were a few younger couples on dates.
This place is known for its romantic ambiance- the downstairs has a pianist and bar, and all of the tables have roses and a candle. However, the upstairs tables are way too close to eachother. We spent a lot of time trying to tune out the obnoxious man who felt the need to read the entire menu out loud before simply ordering the restaurant week option. The menu does sound delicious, just not in his grating voice.
Anyways, our waitress was great and didn't give any attitude when we ordered RW option. Later it got more crowded and it took forever to get dessert and the check.
The food was excellent. My potato leek soup was quite good and my friend enjoyed his shrimp. The lobster served in the soup was prefectly cooked so as not to be overdone. My pork was also very good - juicy and flavorful. My date did not like the bass as much but I think he was trying to be healthy yet craving meat-always a disappointment . I wasnt crazy about my dessert but it was made well.
Overall, dinner was delicious and the service was very friendly. We were disappointed to see that everyone who came after us received an amuse bouche that looked really good. At first we thought we didn't get one cause we ordered RW but then Mr. Menu Reader got it and we were kinda bummed.
The first time I went to One If By Land was three years ago. It was totally dreamy. We had a beautiful table by the big windows downstairs, and the center piece was packed with flowers. The service was exceptional, the wait staff was knowledgeable, and the music was fantasic. The food and the drinks were amazing as well. I felt that I would say yes to anything with a big smile at this place. it was simply incredibly romantic.
Then last week, I went there again for a restaurant week dinner. Well, let's just say, I kinda regretted it. We were seated up stairs. There were two tiny roses in a small vase on the table. Our waiter was totally ghetto, and had no knowledge of their own wine list at all. We ordered a bottle which he said was sweet, but it was actually dry!! Although the food was still good, the most important thing of this establishment is gone. Where is the romance??
I came for restaurant week. $35 dollar menu! With tips and tax, it was $44 per person.
I went on a Friday, it was a very full night. Had a pineapple foam to start. It was interesting. Then had the mushroom tart that everyone raves about. It was MEH. Just meh. Too rich and too salty for my taste but the tart part was very fluffy and light and crisp. I should've had the watermelon salad!
The best part of the dinner was the delicious delicious STEAK, Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm! It was awesome. I don't think I have ever had a better and true to "medium-rare" as this one!
But alas, I could only pick at a few pieces from my bf's plate because I ordered the underwhelming chicken. Even with the small portions, I found myself stuffed!
I had the Blueberry composition, very interesting. Very creative and cool. And the cheesecake was prepared very differently and unique as well. I like it, I like it!
I really like this place. Its pretty classy - I felt like dressing up - but there isn't a dress code, so you can wear sweatpants and your garfield shirt with holes all over it if you so desire. Dinner is either Prix fixe or the tasting menu. Opting for the prix fixe, I had the Tuna Crudo appetizer along with the duck entree. I never order duck (I always see them swimming around in muck and they just seem dirty) but I gave it a shot. It was amaaaazing. If duck was always this good I would always order it. I also tried the beef wellington and the risotto, both of which were excellent. Overall, a great place.
I've been here a few times and still like it! The only drawback is if you get seated in the extension dining area. The ambience is lost as it looks more like any other restaurant.
The food is consistent and I do enjoy grabbing a drink at the bar and people watching. There always seems to be some guy getting down on one knee and proposing.
Holy cow, this was amazing. Now, I started with the split pea soup, which just seemed funny ordering at such a nice restaurant, but thank GOD i did. It was by far my most favorite dish I had all weekend and possibly in the last few months. I will upload a picture of it shortly, but let me just describe it. Perfectly smooth and creamy, with a little "gate" of very thinly sliced cucumbers holding in creme fresh. It came with a side of perfectly thick little cubes of bacon and home made croutons to sprinkle on the top. The portion was very generous, too! It took everything I had not to lick my bowl when I was done.
I then had the beef wellington with foie gras sauce. Again, the portion was VERY generous and I actually couldn't finish it. I don't even know what to say, my mouth is watering thinking about it right now. The flakey pastry that covered the fillet was perfect.
We finished with desert which was good, but wasn't anything to write home about. Maybe that's because I was still dreaming about the two courses I had just had. Amazing. Delish. OMG.
Was disappointed in this restaurant. Came here for restaurant week and ended up having to eat after we left, the portions were sooo tiny.
I ordered a pork dish which was overcooked and my boyfriend had steak which was literally 4 thin slices of meat on a plate. It was not impressive.
On top of being "one of the most romantic" restaurants in NY, I was expecting impeccable service and expected formal dress code....there was a guy at the bar in sweatpants.
One of my all time favorites always great always on top of there game. the best chocalate souffle ever.
Our roommate gave us a gift certificate a couple of years ago for Christmas and we finally got around to using it. We decided to go there for my birthday and it really is incredibly romantic. I had the scallop and clove infused turnip appetizer and they melted in my mouth - my husband is not a seafood person, but he loved them. He has tried to be more adventurous, so he ordered the octopus appetizer. The octopus was tender and beautifully presented, but we both though that the kalamata olive mixture underneath was too acidic and we didn't really care for it. Onto the main course...I had the beef wellington and it was delicious. My husband had the roast duck and it was cooked to perfection! These entrees were elegantly plated and it was a beautiful presentation. The pumpkin creme broulee finished us off and was a perfect fall desert. We also had the Chocolate Pistachio, but I preferred the Creme Broulee. The waitstaff was incredible, though our waiter was a bit snobby. All in all we had a wonderful time and the candles, roses and the piano player set the tone for a romantic evening perfectly. Expect to drop some cash, but if it is a splurge it is well worth it!
[3 stars]
1 If By Land 2 If By Sea was highly recommended by my cousin and foodie friend so I figured it was worth checking out. I went with 3 girlfriends for my 22nd birthday dinner a few weeks ago. Needless to say, while the interior was beautiful (a refurbished very old and rich townhouse with antique wooden furniture, a fireplace, couches, carpeting and even a live piano player playing throughout the night), the food was mediocre, the lights a little too dim, and our waiter was a bit rude. A busboy even dropped a piece of bread into my friend's soup and it splashed all over her! He was very apologetic but still- it was careless.
I would recommend you to check it out once because it's just one of those must-go places, but I'm not raving about it.
I left One If By Land with one thing on my mind: polenta. Creamy, smooth, and absolutely delicious, it totally made my night. That and the cheesecake with black currant sauce. Yum.
But aside from the creamy goodness, I was a little underwhelmed. Granted, the atmosphere is wonderful- very cozy and romantic. Were I to go back, I would ask for a table by the window with a view of the garden. If you prefer a more "private" experience there are many tables on the second level with only a single candle providing light.
I went for restaurant week, and sampled the mushroom tart, the chicken entree, and the cheesecake dessert. The wine we ordered was fabulous. At $40 it tasted like a $100 bottle. Perfect. But the food was somewhat ordinary. Good, but like something you'd have at a wedding. The exception of course being the polenta, which came alongside my chicken... as well as the cheesecake. But you can't judge a place by sides or dessert alone. So overall, I would gander to say there are many other better restaurants out there, for the money.
i came here for restaurant week. our waiter was great, which isn't always the experience i have during restaurant week. the food was amazing and even the hostess came by to ask us how we were doing. i highly recommend this place during restaurant week & outright.
Yes, Casanova would likely count this among his go-to spots. From the dim lighting to the fire place and live piano, this restaurant oozes romance.
The fare was certainly above average, though not stellar. I opted out of the legendary Beef Wellington and went with the duck since I'm not a fan of foie gras. Everyone at my table (double date) was happy with their dishes and the wine was great.
Overall, I was impressed with the experience and recommend you try it at least once- perhaps during restaurant week.
Neighborhood: West Village
Category: American (New)
Neighborhood: Midtown East
Category: Nightlife
Brooklyn, NY
Category: American (New)
Neighborhood: West Village
Category: Italian
Neighborhood: Flatiron
Category: American (Traditional)
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