Alison C.
Yelp
I recently visited Blackbarn for a marketing industry function. When I arrived, I met some of the event hosts at the bar and sipped a Stable Boy cocktail, which included some of my favorite ingredients, such as mezcal and passion fruit. It was smoky, tart, and delicious. After we spent some time on introductions, we headed downstairs to their wine cellar, where the main function was being held. They had a small bar set up just outside of the dining area, where they were serving basic mixed drinks, wine, and beer. A bunch of us grabbed some beverages and stood around networking, until we were brought into the kitchen to learn how to make chocolate soufflés from executive chef, John Doherty. Chef was very welcoming, entertaining, and talented, making it a very enjoyable experience. We then headed back into the cellar for a wine pairing dinner, where each course was sourced from dinners at which Chef Doherty had cooked for world leaders.
The first course was a Consommé with Wild Mushroom Ravioli, which was aromatic and rich with flavor, while also managing to be delicate. It was paired with the Banshee Ten of Cups Sparkling Brut from California. Next came the Seared Maine Diver Sea Scallop over a potato mousseline and topped with Oscetra caviar. The buttery scallop melted in my mouth, and for someone that typically was not a fan of mashed potatoes, the creamy mouselline won my heart. This was my favorite dish of the evening! The seafood course was matched with Domaine Sylvain Pataille's Marsannay Blanc from Burgundy, France. The Roast Rack of Lamb came next. The tender meat was served with rosemary jus and accompanied by an earthy eggplant and tomato terrine. It was paired with a 2017 Valdubon Reserva from the Ribera del Duero of Spain. From there, we transitioned to dessert, starting with a plate of creamy Brillat Saverin Cheese, served with a garden salad. The funky cheese went well with a second glass of the Spanish red wine. Lastly, we each got one of the Chocolate Soufflés with its sinful, gooey center. A sweet Sauternes from Chateau Roumieu-Lacoste in Bordeaux, France truly complemented the rich, fluffy pastry.
From the beverages to the culinary delights, everything I tried that evening simply blew me away! In addition, the restaurant was absolutely gorgeous, and the staff was top-notch. For all of these reason, Blackbarn definitely offers one of the top dining experiences in Manhattan.
(Also, while going to write this review, I noticed that I had a drafted, 5-star review from several years ago that I had not completed. Since some of the menu items still live on in some variation to this day, I am going to provide some brief feedback below from my initial visit:
--Bread basket contained a cheesy roll, crisp breadsticks, and doughy white bread
--Glass of 2009 Sighardt Donnabaum "Weingarten" Gruner Veltliner from Austria was AMAZING! The crisp white wine was particularly fruity for a Gruner and also possessed slight peppery notes.
--Curried Cauliflower Steak with cilantro raita, toasted pine nuts, pickled raisins: included a bunch of additional, sautéed veggies, and the curry sauce was present without being overwhelming
--Grilled Baby Octopus with a chickpea puree, fennel, and sundried tomato gremolata: Octopus was PERFECTLY cooked, but humus was a bit bland
--Crispy Skinned Amish Chicken with ricotta gnocchi, autumn vegetables, grapes, parmesan: Chicken was moist and flavorful, but sauce was too buttery and heavy)