Essential by Christophe

“I’ve celebrated so many special moments here my birthday, our anniversary, and even my partner’s birthday. The atmosphere is always amazing, and the food is absolutely delicious. This place holds such great memories for me, and I’ll definitely comeback again.”

“An underrated and underdiscovered elegant restaurant with amazing service. A Well deserved Michelin star, they went out of their way to make my friend's birthday a fabulous experience. The burger (not on a tasting menu) was top class and tasting menu was also a hit, especially caviar topped scallops. The dessert was a bit too sweet though.”

“Absolutely Exceptional Dining Experience We had the most incredible experience at Essential by Christophe. We were there celebrating the newlyweds, and choosing the Chef’s Room truly made the evening unforgettable. The level of service was unlike anything I’ve ever experienced, every single staff member made us feel welcomed, comfortable, and genuinely cared for. They anticipated what we needed before we even asked and made sure every guest had exactly what they wanted. The food was outstanding. The Wagyu beef cap was melt-in-your-mouth perfection, the scallop was a clear highlight, and the mushroom cappuccino was one of the most unique and delicious dishes. Every course was beautifully executed and thoughtfully balanced. If you’re looking for a place to celebrate a special occasion or want a dining experience that exceeds every expectation, I cannot recommend this restaurant enough. Absolutely five stars.”

“9.30.2025 i celebrated my birthday here with mom & i can say with full confidence that this is the best meal ive had this year. comparing to other michelin french fine dining establishments, i would pick this as my top 1 for overall hospitality, food and price point. essential offers a truly unique seafood-focused menu with every course being as memorable or even better than the last. the flavor combinations are rich, perfectly well-balanced & all-around luxurious. dont underestimate the simple presentations because the taste will blow you away. alfonso was our server—he was AMAZING! very attentive & made my night feel extra special with personal touches, check-ins throughout the meal as well as assisting me with my annoying vlog/photo sessions. cant forget to mention that the dining room is extremely gorgeous with its warm yellow hues, flowers & intimate table settings—perfect for date night. im already looking forward to revisiting & telling all my friends about it. simply exceeded all my expectations—wont be surprised to see essential gain another star soon. thank you so much team!”

“My husband and I booked a private dining room at this restaurant to celebrate our marriage with friends. While I will give credit where it’s due—the food itself and the service we got were good—the overall experience was deeply marred by sneaky pricing tactics and unacceptable billing incompetence. 1. Deceptive Water Upselling: At the beginning of the dinner, the waiter asked me and my husband if we wanted "still or sparkling water," completely omitting the option of tap water. Confused, I assumed "still" meant tap water. It wasn’t until I looked at the receipt the next day that I realized we were charged a staggering $150 just for still water. We have dined at numerous Michelin-starred restaurants in NYC, including three-star, and never has a restaurant hidden the tap water option like this. It felt incredibly cheap and deceptive. 2. Major Billing Error and Subpar Customer Service: A month prior to the event, I provided my credit card information and paid a $1,500 deposit. However, looking at the final receipt and my credit card statement, I noticed they charged me the full event total of $5,300 on top of the deposit. When I emailed the manager to ask about the $1,500 refund, I was told the deposit was "non-refundable and already applied to the total." after a day. Knowing the math was completely wrong, I called the manager. During the call, I had to explain three times that we were overcharged, but the manager repeatedly dismissed my concerns, insisting the receipt was final. It wasn't until the fourth time I pushed back that she finally agreed to actually look at the receipt and said she needed to check with her own manager. An hour later, they finally admitted they made a mistake. All I received was a breezy "please excuse us for the error." What if I hadn't meticulously checked my bank statements? This blatant lack of attention to detail and the defensive attitude of the staff created a lot of unnecessary stress and work for me. A Michelin-starred restaurant should present flawless execution, not only on the plate but also in their service and financial integrity. Sadly, they failed on the latter. I cannot recommend this place for a hassle-free special occasion. ——————————————— Follow-up: The director of operations reached out to me to apologize for their mistake and invited me to visit the restaurant again. I accept the apology and am glad to see that management values feedback and cares about their guests' experience.”