Molly T.
Yelp
A five-star experience should be obvious. If you're not sure, it's probably four stars. Growing up in a baseball family, my dad always said "it's not called the Hall of the Very Good". Bridges is absolutely fast tracking it to the Hall of Fame -- a no doubter, to stay with baseball terminology. Everything here is truly excellent. Drinks, food, service, vibes. But *especially* the food. It is French-leaning but there are a variety of other European influences that come through, which is probably why I liked it exponentially more than straightforward French fare. Because life gets in the way, I haven't been able to dine out as much as I'd like to in recent months, and Bridges was a celebratory return to what remains my favorite pastime.
We came here at 9:15 on a Saturday night. I could tell the vibes were excellent from the moment I walked inside. It's a gut feeling. The other gut feeling I had -- which is not one I can say I've experienced often despite living and going out in Manhattan for the entirety of my 20s and now early 30s -- is that there were several celebrities of some caliber dining here. This was not confirmed nor denied, yet it was a strong feeling that I had. And when I shared this with my partner, he too had the same intuition. I don't know what this means exactly, other than the fact that the ambiance at Bridges and the crowd it attracts must create the essence of importance and esteem.
In true form, I absolutely ran to order the Salt & Pepper Vesper (Gin, Vodka, Vermouths, Pepper), despite it being a vodka-based drinks. I swear I saw at least half of the patrons drinking it, and it was the closest thing to a martini I could find on the signature cocktail menu, so I had to try it. As I had hoped, it was excellent -- clearly popular for a reason. With the majority of the food, I went with a skin contact wine which was delicious, but I can't remember which one it was. To finish the meal we split an Old Fashioned (Bourbon, Coconut Water, Benedictine, Bitters), which was a perfect nightcap.
The abridged food review: 4.0 GPA, A+s across the board. Everything was flavorful, elegant, creative but unpretentious. We ordered a mix of small and larger plates to sample as much as we could, and while we were reaching peak fullness at the end, it was definitely the correct order. Eats, below:
Sea urchin custard with shrimp: A+
Pure decadence, no other way to put it. Just a fluffy little bowl of heaven, rich and umami, a little goes a long way.
Lettuces, asian pear and trout roe: A+
Lettuces were crisp and fresh was light and creamy dressing, always love some seasonal produce in the salad and the asian pear was a crisp, bright addition. The roe was a fun touch, can't say it's something I typically see in a salad but I'm not mad about it.
Kabocha squash and puntarelle with Brabander: A+
Don't let the bad picture food you - this was shockingly excellent. Again, loved the seasonal spin, the squash was sweet and earthy and paired so well with the coarse greens and mild gouda. Clean flavors, still exciting.
Grilled king crab with Béarnaise and daikon: A+
A worthy splurge for sure. The crab was so tender and juicy, perfectly cooked. I wasn't sure how this was going to be served from how it was described on the menu so I appreciated the little radish skewers and Béarnaise served on the side to add some movement to the plate.
Roast duck with cabbage and XO: A+
Always thrilled to see duck on a menu, our excitement for this dish seems to have precluded a picture being taken. I can tell you that it was well-executed served with worthy and reliable accompaniments. Roasted cabbage in the colder months is a no-brainer.