Family Meal at Blue Hill

This was THE spot my adult son wanted to visit on his birthday trip to NYC with me and his sister. He had seen the Netflix documentary on Blue Hill and it totally inspired him. He planted it in his mind that he wanted to visit Dan Barber's restaurant one day. When I told him I wanted to take him to NYC for his birthday, the first thing he asked to do was to visit here. He raved about the restaurant all the way to NYC. He even had us watch the documentary so we could understand why he was so excited about it. Before we came, we all had super high expectations. I was kind of worried that our expectations were too high. As the first dish was served and we bit into the raw veggies, we didn't know exactly what we were to expect - after all, how different could a radish be? But we thoroughly enjoyed each bite. When it came to the turnip, we hesitated - raw turnip? After we took a bite, we looked at each other and almost at the same time said: "That's a turnip?!" It was incredible - sweet - juicy - perfect. We ate everything - greens and all - it's that good and that fresh. With each dish that was served, we found ourselves transported to a time and place where food was alive - where simple foods tasted incredible all on their own, and where food could be enjoyed without punishing you later. When we made our reservations, I indicated that my daughter and I were gluten-free and dairy-free. We always avoid those because we don't do well with the glyphosate found in most wheat products (from Round-up being used on the crops) and the hormones and antibiotics pumped into dairy cows that make their way into the milk. After we watched the documentary, we decided to drop the restrictions. My daughter was almost in tears as she bit into bread and butter that was so incredibly delicious that she was wishing she could find a way to have it every day. We all enjoyed the dairy, bread, and every part of each course. And, hours later, we didn't have to "pay the price". The price had been paid ahead of time by sourcing ingredients that both taste delicious and deliver proper nutrition to the body without any harmful additions. We couldn't have been happier. We enjoyed our meal so much that we decided to change our plans and go back for the Sunday lunch 2 days later. That was an equally wonderful experience. And, what meal out is complete without incredible serving staff! The staff here are wonderful and went out of their way to welcome us and help us celebrate my son's birthday in the perfect way. Thank you to everyone at Blue Hill Restaurant. And thank you to Dan Barber for your commitment to a vision. We see it with you. Our only regret is not being able to meet the chefs who created such fantastic food. Your talents were greatly enjoyed by us three.

A masterclass in sustainable and unconventional agriculture. Many of plates are simple. Sliced tomatillos and tomatoes with a light accompaniment of olive oil, yet the taste makes you ask "how do they do it?" after every bite. The cuisine is decidedly not flashy. It doesn't need to be. Each ingredient appears to have undergone significant scrutiny to appear in a dish. For instance, the graham crackers atop a cheesecake are made of a special grain and are, also, unique. To say nothing of the food, the service is incredible. Gluten free guests were easily accommodated. The garden room in the back is an incredible way to dine. The room is large and very quiet.