Le Jardinier, French for “the gardener,” is Chef Alain Verzeroli’s Michelin-starred midtown restaurant, where my friend treated me to a birthday meal. We sat at a corner round table, which was oh-so conducive to great conversation and viewing the restaurant.

I started sipping my Rogue Royale ($24), a smooth, well-balanced blend of El Tesoro Blanco, lime, blood orange, ancho chile and Grand Marnier, while nibbling the crispy breadsticks and soft rolls: my friend, a gin and tonic.

With our meal, we sipped the Bouchard Pere & Fils Gevrey-Chambertin Red Burgundy ($225), a Pinot Noir from Côte de Nuits, Bourgogne, France. Decadent.

My friend enjoyed her buratta with red cherries and heirloom tomatoes flavored with bee pollen and basil seeds ($36), while I enjoyed the tender Spanish octopus with sliced green olives and haricot vert over romesco sauce ($36).

The Atlantic halibut came cooked to perfection with morel mushrooms and white asparagus in a foamy veloute ($44). My perfectly cooked Snake River Farm Wagyu bavette, the long, flat and tender cut of beef, came with a garlicky turnip and horseradish purée ($68).

If that wasn’t enough, we ended with a dessert orgy consuming much of the six (Yes, six!) of them — all menu-listed ones (except the vegan ice cream) plus the restaurant’s special birthday one. I thought I was full, emphasis on thought!

I indulged in—and thoroughly enjoyed—all of them ($19 each). That included a decadent Valrhona Guanaja dark chocolate crémeux with salty caramel sabayon; the butterfly with yuzu mousse, raspberry compote and pistachio sablé; blueberry fields with lemon cream, lemongrass foam and yogurt sorbet; strawberry caraibes with pineapple and lime compote; a coconut dacquoise, the cloud, popcorn chantilly, caramel moo, and pink peppercorn sable and the special birthday dessert of chocolate mousse with caramel filling and panna cotta topping.

I highly recommend Le Jardinier for its great service and food.

Le Jardinier
Midtown
610 Lexington Ave
New York, NY 10022
(212) 451-9211
lejardinier-nyc.com