The other rainy afternoon, I took the train up to 51th Street and Lexington Avenue

and then walked across to 151 West 51st Street to the iconic French restaurant Le Bernardin. Le Bernardin has received a four-star rating from The New York Times since 1986 and it’s the only seafood restaurant in New York City that has maintained that four-star rating from The New York Times for well over 35 years.

Gilbert Le Coze and his sister Maguy Le Coze opened the original Le Bernardin restaurant in Paris in 1972. They named the restaurant Le Bernardin because that was a folk song that their father used to sing to them as children which ws “Les Moines de St. Bernardin. It’s a song about monks who Loved Life-the good life especially.” It became an instant success and in 1986 the Cozes opened a Le Bernardin in New York City.

At that point in time , right after it’s opening Le Bernardin earned four stars from The New York Times However, 3 months after the unexpected death of her brother Gilbert in 1994, Maguy Le Coze began working closely with chef Eric Ripert, a disciple and close friend of her brothers, who took over the kitchen, and along with Le Coze continues to maintain Le Bernardin position as one of the world’s premier seafood restaurants.

Reservations are required for the main Dining Room and the Lounge is walk in based.

Now normally, I don’t talk about cost but it’s important to understand that as a four-star Michelin seafood restaurant this dining experience comes at a cost. I went with a group of people and one of the attendees handled those details but on their website this is what they note:

“Cost: Dinner at $165 for four a la carte courses (three savory), $198 for a seven-course tasting ($293 with wine pairings), $228 for an eight-course tasting ($373 with pairings). There is also a $170 vegetarian tasting menu. Lunch is three courses (two savory) for $93. Diners in the lounge can order a $60 City Harvest three-course menu.”

So now you know but the food was fabulous in addition to a lot of little dishes that they offered us for what turned out to be a three course meal for each person in the group.

Here is the outside of the restaurant.

Here is the inside bar area, bar lounge area and main dining room.

Here is what my three course dinner looked like.

First we were surprised with three little samples of which was fun to try. The far left had spring pea soup, the middle taster was codfish bacato and the last taster was salmon rillet.

The first course that I chose was a Mesclun Salad. In it were market herbs, seasonal vegetables and truffle vingrette and it was excellent.

Then for the next course I chose Baked Snapper with Mini Potatoes. I had never had Baked Snapper before but it was absolutely fabulous!

Now dessert was the most difficult to choose because they had so many great sounding options. But… I decided to order Pistachio Praline with Grand Marnier Bavarois.

It was absolutely divine! One of the best desserts that I have, ever, ever had. Amazing.

So I do recommend Le Bernardin but just remember that it comes at a cost! So when you’re ready, remember to treat yourself on that special occasion. You deserve it!