GOLDEN WUISH (THE DUCKHOUSE)

My first experience with LJ was June 2024 and I had stopped in for lunch. I was completely enamored with the Carolina Gold Rice Risotto and the generous staff, so I knew that I had to come back. I came here for a birthday dinner 4/5/25. As others have noted, the setting is dark, quiet and filled with fake plants, which in my opinion is still elegant and a nice break from the usual overbearing NYC setting. As a party of two, were sat in a large booth. The food was creative, yet traditional, and their culinary mission is very evident in the presentation of the dishes. We opted for the Create-Your-Own 3/4 course meal options, and I couldn't have been more pleased. The bread is warm, fresh and accompanied by house butter. My Hiramasa appetizer popped with flavor and my steak was honestly one of the best steaks I have ever had. You just have to get the plant-based ice cream: you won't order ice cream anywhere else ever again. Having worked in fine dining myself, I can say with confidence the staff worked overtime to deliver a pleasing experience. Water refilled; tableware reset; plates taken away in a timely fashion. Our server Milfa was also very friendly. I had a great time here and especially recommend the restaurant to those who seek an introductory exploration into NYC's fine dining scene.

Wow. The focus on seasonal dishes is super interesting, and more importantly tasted amazing. The duck main was definitely the most memorable dish, but the scallops and the risotto were so good too. If you like lighter desserts, the yuzu mousse is perfect. For drinks, I forgot the name but the warm kiwi cocktail was also excellent. Service is top notch and the staff is super friendly. Hands down one of my top favorite recent discoveries in the city.

My wife and I enjoyed a very nice dinner at Le Jardinier last week. The interior design is beautiful and inviting. The main door is quite difficult to open. If I were an elderly person I might have a really hard time figuring out how to even get inside much less power the heavy door open. All of the food was very well prepared, of high quality, and tasted very good. Portions were generous and the price point is spot on. I like how you can order a la carte if not in the mood for a tasting menu whereas many other fine dining restaurants only offer tasting menus in their main dining area. None of the dishes wowed me, but everything was beautifully prepared, sophisticated, and delicious. Certainly what someone might expect at a Michelin 1 level restaurant, and I think this restaurant does fill a void in the fine dining arena of New York City at its price point between $125 and $150 for a dining experience. Some observations that should be noted….we were not fans of the artificial plants throughout the space. I would prefer fewer plants yet real unless there is a specific reason for this such as possible health department codes and having real plants? The service seemed a bit scattered at times, and not very polished. Front of house service did not match the level of food on the plate. Our server who took our order was very nice, but the staff that delivers the food to your table was hard to understand and not on par. For example, we were brought our main course and there was no silverware on the table. Desserts were fantastic and at another level! We enjoyed our experience over all and would certainly come back. Le Jardinier is a good restaurant that has the potential to be great!