The Modern is the restaurant that has sat on our “to visit” list the longest. We’ve had a number of near-misses but finally went for dinner last Wednesday.
Upon entry, we were escorted to a seat next to one of the windows looking on the MoMA’s garden. This proved a disadvantage later in the evening when they turned on the lights outdoors, leaving us with nasty mixed light and some weird shadows from the window bars. (What a nightmare to process! Very inconsistent white balance throughout... yuck.)

Our second courses were a Loup de Mer “soufflé”, excellently cooked though only very barely reminiscent of a soufflé, along with a delightful hamachi, sea urchin, and fennel tart that really demonstrated the kitchen’s skill in working with pastry elements in savory courses. Our last savories were a piece of very flavorful chicken breast accompanied generously by morels for me, along with a fantastic duck course with tableside preparation that has to be seen to be believed.
It’s no surprise that desserts were excellent. I voluntarily ordered a lemon dessert for the first time that I can remember and was anything but disappointed. Alice’s strawberry-rhubarb vacherin was pretty good too. We could not have asked for a better way to finally conclude the meal than with selections from the three-level petits fours trolley (what a tease that thing is!). My only regret was not ordering some selections from the cheese cart that I’d seen being wheeled around, though I don’t know how I would have made the space in my stomach.
This is one of the best restaurants in New York. Eleven Madison Park may be the darling of Danny Meier’s stable, but the Modern is not to be missed.
(Thanks, Jimmy!)
the food presentation is gorgeous! looks like jimmy is a natural at this food-writing business, but i definitely enjoy the funny bits of alice's add-on's.
ReplyDeleteWow, impressive. Love J's writing; bring on the novel! Your personal annotations make it "you," though.
ReplyDeleteOoh, and we get a bonus movie. Pass the duck-fat popcorn, please!
What delicious food photos. It all looks so delicious. Should I even come to New York ... I have to go there. I especially like the fork and the plate on the 2th photo.
ReplyDeleteAmazing food photos inspite of white balance difficulties ;)
ReplyDeleteVery well done =)
Great recapitulation :) The Modern is one of my favorite places in town!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful dishes! Bookmarked
ReplyDelete