New York's Best Value Michelin Star 🌟

Essential by Christophe 📍 103 W 77th St, New York, NY, 10024 🥬I visited this restaurant about a year ago, before it earned its first Michelin star. 🌟 I stumbled upon this hidden gem almost by accident. At the time, it wasn't very well-known, but the chef's background was impressive—he was once the executive chef at Atelier Joël Robuchon. 🎖️ 🥬With high praise from Little Red Book and a 4.8-star rating on Google, I decided to give it a try, and it was truly delightful. I think this French cuisine is particularly suited to Asian palates. Unlike some traditional French dishes that can be overly salty, this one focuses more on umami flavors. Plus, the acidity is well-balanced, unlike Gabriel, where every dish can be overly tart. 🍽️ Menu 🍽️: 🌟 Mushroom Cappuccino - A rich and aromatic mushroom soup, a comforting start to the meal. 🍄 🌟 Sea Urchin - The flavors were perfectly balanced. The saltiness of the caviar didn't overpower but instead highlighted the sweetness of the sea urchin. 🍣 ❌ Scallop - The outer layer paired with kale didn't quite work for me. The flavor was a bit odd, and the presentation was a bit too adventurous. 🥬 🌟 Lobster - The lobster was crisp and sweet, perfectly cooked. The accompanying lobster bisque was rich and full-bodied. 🦞 Overall, it was a fantastic experience, and I highly recommend it! #NewYork 🌆🌟