The Essex

Review summary

1. P

   Philip

   VIP

   Washington DC

   33 reviews

   5.0

   33 reviews

   Dined on February 27, 2025

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   This is a special place, from the artistry on the walls to the artistry on the plate. We enjoyed a quiet night dining a la carte at the bar. Bar tender is super knowledgeable of the area and wine list (which always has interesting and diverse selections to meet both tastes and budgets). Our dinner was brilliant - subtle, elevated flavor and execution without showboating.
   

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2. T

   Trisha

   New York City

   9 reviews

   5.0

   9 reviews

   Dined on February 22, 2025

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 4
   4. Ambience 4

   I read reviews prior to coming to this restaurant. Once experiencing this restaurant for myself I had to laugh at the one star reviews this restaurant received. We had the pre-fixe menu, and received multiple courses of food as mentioned on the menu. The amuse bouche was amazing. The canapés were delicious. The food my husband and I had was the saffron risotto, wagyu beef cheek bourguignon tagliolini, Prime steak frites (New York strip), lobster a la meunière, Miami vice and chocolate candy bar. We enjoyed all of the above. The only criticism I would have is the tagliolini pasta was too thick. The venue was energetic. It seems to be a local hot spot with good vibes. I would not recommend this restaurant for a quiet evening to celebrate an anniversary. I would recommend it for a more lively or social outing. We were pleased with our experience as a whole. We will be back for the complete chef tasting menu.
   

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3. B

   Bob

   VIP

   New York City

   39 reviews

   5.0

   39 reviews

   Dined on February 22, 2025

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   The dining experience we enjoyed at The Essex will undoubtedly be one of our favorite meals of the year. We reserved a spot at the Chef's counter which overlooks all the action happening in the kitchen. Watching how well the culinary crew was orchestrated was a real treat. We opted for the Chefs Tasting Menu, and it was a great decision. Highlights were the lobster bisque. the Hiramasu Cru, lobster quenelles (a real treat), crispy octopus, Jurgielewicz duck, and the Wagyu. Shout out to the chef and his team, and to our server who helped us pair our meal with some enjoyable wines. The Essex has a cool vibe, and they strive to make everyone feel welcome. Highly recommended!
   

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4. C

   Carolyn

   Atlantic City

   39 reviews

   4.0

   39 reviews

   Dined on February 21, 2025

   1. Overall 4
   2. Food 4
   3. Service 4
   4. Ambience 4

   We had the chef’s tastings as our meal (several courses of small bites). I do not eat red meat, so the chef substituted lobster for me. I enjoyed every course. It took a while to get our next course once the restaurant started filling up; we were there two hours and had to rush through the last couple courses to get to a show. My husband wanted to order the prix fixe dinner but because it was my belated Valentine’s dinner he agreed to have the tasting because everyone in the party has to choose the same, either the tastings or the pre fixe. I really wanted the duck but it wasn’t on the prix fixe menu. A la carte items were only available at the bar. This was disappointing for my husband especially and though we enjoyed all the food we were served in the tasting, the lack of ability for each of us to order exactly what we wanted will probably discourage us from returning.
   

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5. S

   Steven

   VIP

   New York City

   13 reviews

   5.0

   13 reviews

   Dined on February 15, 2025

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 4
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   Excellent on a snowy night. Food could have been a little warmer.
   

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6. C

   C

   New York City

   4 reviews

   5.0

   4 reviews

   Dined on February 15, 2025

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   We came for the Valentines special tasting menu. Normally I am not a fan of the bloated vdaypreset menu, however at $165 per person this over delivered and was truly special! 9 courses of excitement, attentive service, wonderful wine and an unpretentious atmosphere. The food, I mean this was the best meal we have ever had! The surprise winner of the night? “The Beet”. No words can even do justice to a simple roasted beet with a magical ride of adventure! And the best part? As they said, this is not a one off for the holiday, this is just like any other night at the restaurant with their tasting menu!
   

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7. r

   robin

   VIP

   Greater Boston

   10 reviews

   5.0

   10 reviews

   Dined on February 15, 2025

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 4

   Never disappointed!! Food and service were excellent. Dylan continues to make our experience a wonderful one
   

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8. A

   Alan

   San Francisco

   5 reviews

   5.0

   5 reviews

   Dined on February 13, 2025

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   Always any enjoyable meal with inviting creations, and great service.
   

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9. R

   Rob

   New York City

   1 review

   5.0

   1 review

   Dined on February 13, 2025

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   It was our first time there and we were looking for a special experience for Valentine’s Day and the Essex delivered on all counts! Very memorable meal. Highly recommend…
   

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10. j

    joan

    Philadelphia

    4 reviews

    5.0

    4 reviews

    Dined on February 7, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5

    One of the best dining experience my husband and I have ever had.
    

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