My girlfriend and I were in the city for the weekend and, after looking over numerous restaurants and reading various reviews, we decided to go to Gilt. Living in Boston, as well as being from NY originally, and dining out on a fairly regular basis, I feel like I've eaten at some great establishments. However, my previous experiences and reviews of Gilt did not do my anticipation of the meal justice. Simply amazing is the only way I can describe the 2 hours of fine dinning at Gilt. From the pre-meal amuse bouche to the artistic and decadent desserts, everything was outstanding. The exquisite decor and architecture are only outdone by the beautiful presentation of food. \r
\r
Every course my girlfriend and I had was perfect. Her tuna tartare was accompanied by the most delicious tiny scallion pancakes I've ever had, and my hamachi sashimi was accented by Chef Lee's creation of jalapeno caviar (it?s amazing how he makes that). My main course, venison, was cooked perfectly and topped with a spiced red cabbage brandy jus; the meat melted in my mouth after the explosion of flavors. My girlfriend had the crispy sea bass in a saffron mussel broth; I can only image how good it was from the expressions on her face after each bite. The desserts were equally amazing and to top it off, after the meal we were presented with some designer chocolates.\r
\r
As other reviewers have said, for a fine dinning establishment, it was not stuffy at all. As you would expect in fine dining, the service was impeccable and timing was on point. However, the staff was extremely friendly and engaging, something you usually won?t experience at a high end restaurant.\r
\r
If you haven't already guessed, I would highly recommend Gilt to anyone looking for not only a great meal, but also a remarkable all around experience.
Pros: Ambience, Presentation, Taste, Service
Cons: Dinner had to come to an end.
more