New York 🍴 | Michelin One-Star (Formerly) Italian Dining

Back in New York, with the cold weather and work, I felt like treating myself. I made a last-minute reservation here, and there were still plenty of seats available. 🍴 Ai Fiori 🟦The restaurant is located inside The Langham. Upon entering, you first see a bar, but the dining area inside is quite quiet. The ambiance and service are both excellent. This place used to be a Michelin one-star restaurant but reportedly lost its ⭐️ during the 2022-2023 selection. 🟦Their pre-meal bread is quite thoughtful—a piece of focaccia and a baguette, served with a garlicky hummus-like dip. Both types of bread are savory, and the focaccia is perfect for dipping into the sauces of the following dishes. 🟦For appetizers, I had a poached egg and a cold soup. The cold soup looks creamy but isn’t very thick, making it quite refreshing. 🟦The poached egg was just right with a perfectly runny yolk. It was topped with cheese, giving it a savory and aromatic flavor. The side dish had a slight tomato flavor. Overall, it was quite delicious and suited my taste. 🟦For the main course, we both ordered short rib , which was incredibly tender! It fell apart with just a fork, no knife needed. The flavor was decent but a bit salty. The beans on the side were quite tasty, slightly soft and infused with the beef flavor. 🟦The only thing I didn’t like was the dessert. The tiramisu wasn’t the traditional mascarpone and ladyfinger version but had a mousse-like texture and was overly sweet. The affogato was slightly better but had a very weak coffee flavor. 🟦After the meal, they served small madeleine-like bread, which was quite good. You could taste the lemon🍋 and butter flavors. 🟦Overall, I think this place is worth a visit. The dishes are above average in taste, and the ambiance and service are top-notch. It’s also conveniently located near Koreatown. #FoodieDiary #ItalianCuisine #NewYork #NYCFoodie #NYCExploration #NYCDaily #NYCItalian #NYCRestaurantWeek #Michelin #NYCMichelin