Krystal Chong and Jodi Stewart at the entrance of the renowned Bergdorf Goodman.
March 1, 2016
Foodie in NY: The Restaurant at Bergdorf Goodman
What happens when the Jamaica Observer Table Talk Food Awards judge and Page 2 fave, Jodi ‘Jinx’ Henriques, hits New York on a Carnival costume-designing jaunt and calls time out?
Her BFF Krystal Chong tells Thursday Life that “the first place that came to mind was Bergdorfs!”
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It’s really the epitome of the sophisticated New York style shop and catch-up!
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I won’t review the shopping. It’s uber-fab and even ‘uberer’ $$$. But the restaurant has always been this Jamaican girl’s New York equivalent of Kingston, Jamaica’s Terra Nova All-Suite Hotel’s high tea with a massive Fifth Avenue twist.
One must enter the seven-storey landmark from the ground level. It was rainy that day, but, upon arriving, a well-dressed doorman greeted us as he opened our car door with an umbrella in hand and whisked us into the store. As a woman in love with the Elizabethan era, I relished that gesture as a modern reminiscence of a moment in those period piece movies. The moment where the handsome gentleman throws his coat over a puddle for the young lady getting into her carriage, saving her from the potential despair of, God forbid… murky water! Anyways, I digress.
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Next you must walk through an extensive display of fine jewellery and purses to get to the elevator. Brushing by such beautiful objects, which can range anywhere from $1,000 to hundreds of thousands of US dollars, certainly sets the tone for a posh afternoon!
When you arrive on the 7th floor, you immediately step out into a buzzing restaurant. The energy reminds me of a ‘lunch break’ vibe, but for well-appointed housewives to break up their hard day of supreme luxury shopping. The walls of the entrance are lined with framed photos of all kinds of A-list celebs who frequent the spot. Valentino, Victoria Beckham, Martha Stewart; it definitely doesn’t hurt the appeal!
One of my favourite things about this resto is that the interior décor has a very classic Parisian feel. It’s like getting into a time machine in modern Manhattan and stepping out into aristocratic Paris. I was surprised that we were seated quickly without a reservation. But we wasted no time beginning the catch-up! From wedding planning to marriage advice, I must admit, the setting was perfect for the conversation! But let’s get into the review!
AMBIENCE/ATMOSPHERE:4.5 stars. In a word, it’s very bourgeoisie. The appeal at Bergdorf’s, for me, is to indulge once in a while for a special occasion with your girlfriends. As someone who likes to enjoy different kinds of experiences, I like that it sort of allows you to enjoy an imaginary experience of what it would be like to be a Park Avenue housewife for the cost and duration of one Fifth Avenue lunch! It’s very Housewives of the Upper East Side-esque.’
CREATIVITY: 4 stars. The menu is interesting. You can tell they put thought into making the combination of things as ‘fancy’ as the restaurant feels. For instance, Jodi had the ginger-crusted Skuna Bay salmon with salsify, melted leeks and lotus root. I had the Lobster Napoleon with fresh layers of pasta, chanterelles and black truffle butter. Bonus: Diet-conscious options were earmarked with nutritional breakdowns!
Where they would get 5 stars in creativity is for their tea menu, which was absolutely exquisite. Some examples include: Anji white tea from the Anji region, exclusively harvested one or two weeks a year. And the Nuit a Versailles Green sencha basis, bergamot essential oil, kiwi, yellow peach, orange blossom and violet blossom.
PRESENTATION: 4 stars. The presentation was okay, as to be expected from a restaurant of this stature and pricing, but nothing surprisingly overwhelming.
FOOD: 4.5 stars. You know when you eat something and you’re, like, “My God, this is worth the calories!” That’s how I always feel about the Lobster Napoleon dish. The various parts individually were delightful and they come together so perfectly, it’s heavenly. Jodi’s salmon and red pepper soup was also really great. I really enjoyed the salsify and lotus root in Jodi’s entrée. They were absolutely delicious and worked wonderfully with the salmon.
SERVICE: 3.5 stars. I would usually give them 4 stars because I’ve never experienced over-the-top service, while definitely never experiencing poor service here. However, there was an unfortunate incident on this occasion which involved the waiter putting in the wrong order twice. As a result, my meal came 30 minutes after Jodi’s. He and the rest of the staff were, however, very pleasant and attentive.
PRICE: 4 stars. Appetisers were $15-$25. And Entrées were $35-$45. So it’s relatively expensive. But I think it’s context-appropriate.
OVERALL: 4 stars. This is a lovely experience to treat yourself or your girlfriends to. And the food is really good. It’s perfect for when your mom is in from out of town or when you want to do something nice with your aunt or grandmother. It’s also nice for when you just need a little pick-me-up and want to be transported into another place and time. The high tea option makes it really nice for baby/bridal showers. And as an additional perk, if you do want to get something fabulous, it’s convenient that, in the very same space, you can continue your lunch convo over equally bourgeoisie-style shopping!
Krystal Chong and Jodi Stewart with the interior of the Restaurant at Bergdorf Goodman pictured in back.
Krystal Chong thoroughly enjoying Bergdorf Goodman’s Lobster Napoleon (lobster, fresh pasta layers, chanterelles, truffle butter).
Jodi Stewart is quite happy with the presentation of her ginger-crusted skuna bay salmon with salsify, melted leeks and lotus root.
Krystal pictured with the Lobster Napoleon (lobster, fresh pasta layers, chanterelles, truffle butter).
Jodi enjoying the seasonally inspired soup; roasted red bell pepper soup
