Blue Hill at Stone Barns: Eater’s Not so nice take.

[Joshua_Kates]

I never thought the village restaurant was any great shakes–hardly a once in a generation chef in my book. I’ve never been to Stone Barns–always wanted to, but after Mark’s comments I probably won’t bother. I’m curious what other restaurants he or others in the area think are better.

My favorite restaurant is in Chappaqua called Ibiza. Incredibly creative, always changing Spanish food. MP Taverna in Irvington and Cookery in Dobbs Ferry. All of them have seriously creative talented chefs.

Great food. I went there once with Gerry Dawes.

Thanks, Mark,
I’ve heard of it. I’ll try it next time I am in the area.

[Joshua_Kates]

I never thought the village restaurant was any great shakes–hardly a once in a generation chef in my book. I’ve never been to Stone Barns–always wanted to, but after Mark’s comments I probably won’t bother. I’m curious what other restaurants he or others in the area think are better.

Joshua,

I’m curious when you’ve dined at the village restaurant. We used to go the village restaurant a lot in the mid-late 2000’s. At the time it was one of the more exciting places to eat in NYC. When they went to a price fixed menu, we stopped going as that’s not our favorite way to eat. I don’t know how it is these days, but for 7-10 years it was an outstanding restaurant.

Hi Mike,

I went there during the same period, I suspect; I mainly recall a New Year’s Eve dinner, which was prix fixe and very disappointing, considering the cost. As we no longer live in NYC, we dine out on NYE quite regularly–in the '90’s we had a great meal at the upstairs of the Savoy (no longer there) and one at Corton when Liebrandt was cheffing there was also especially memorable.

[Mike_Cohen]

I never thought the village restaurant was any great shakes–hardly a once in a generation chef in my book. I’ve never been to Stone Barns–always wanted to, but after Mark’s comments I probably won’t bother. I’m curious what other restaurants he or others in the area think are better.

Joshua,

I’m curious when you’ve dined at the village restaurant. We used to go the village restaurant a lot in the mid-late 2000’s. At the time it was one of the more exciting places to eat in NYC. When they went to a price fixed menu, we stopped going as that’s not our favorite way to eat. I don’t know how it is these days, but for 7-10 years it was an outstanding restaurant.

Hi Mike,

I went there during the same period, I suspect; I mainly recall a New Year’s Eve dinner, which was prix fixe and very disappointing, considering the cost. As we no longer live in NYC, we dine out on NYE quite regularly–in the '90’s we had a great meal at the upstairs of the Savoy (no longer there) and one at Corton when Liebrandt was cheffing there was also especially memorable.

All fair…

FWIW, Leibrandt is seriously talented. He had a brief stint at Racine’s and my meal there when he was in the kitchen was off the charts.

I’m usually not a fan of price fixed menu’s, and the NYE aspect would give me pause. But I get it. One bad experience can have a real impact on how we view a restaurant. Especially when it’s not a cheap meal.

[Brent_C_l_a_y_t_o_n]

I thought everyone who lives in NYC knows that Mother’s Day and NYE are two of the absolute worst nights to go out to eat, especially if you’re looking for Michelin-starred quality?

[Tom_G_l_a_s_g_o_w]

I thought everyone who lives in NYC knows that Mother’s Day and NYE are two of the absolute worst nights to go out to eat, especially if you’re looking for Michelin-starred quality?

You think it’s different outside NYC?

[Linda_Baehr]

I thought everyone who lives in NYC knows that Mother’s Day and NYE are two of the absolute worst nights to go out to eat, especially if you’re looking for Michelin-starred quality?

Don’t forget Valentine’s Day.

[T_Welch]

I thought everyone who lives in NYC knows that Mother’s Day and NYE are two of the absolute worst nights to go out to eat, especially if you’re looking for Michelin-starred quality?

Don’t forget Valentine’s Day.

At least Valentine’s Day was mostly deuces, not larger parties.

[Robert_Dentice]

My wife and her brother had dinner there a number of years ago. Her take > Overrated. Dan Barber sounds like a psychopath.

This is just silly. Putting aside the allegations in the article and Dan Barbers reputation, you can’t deny the quality of the food and experience.

[Robert_M_yers]

I thought everyone who lives in NYC knows that Mother’s Day and NYE are two of the absolute worst nights to go out to eat, especially if you’re looking for Michelin-starred quality?

You think it’s different outside NYC?

Even those with a regular pervasion towards spirits and such know it’s best to just hold your own ground on NYE.

[Tom_G_l_a_s_g_o_w]

My wife and her brother had dinner there a number of years ago. Her take > Overrated. Dan Barber sounds like a psychopath.

This is just silly. Putting aside the allegations in the article and Dan Barbers reputation, you can’t deny the quality of the food and experience.

Sociopath? Psychopath is too far, unless there are bodies.

[Mark_Golodetz]

My wife and her brother had dinner there a number of years ago. Her take > Overrated. Dan Barber sounds like a psychopath.

This is just silly. Putting aside the allegations in the article and Dan Barbers reputation, you can’t deny the quality of the food and experience.

Actually, as I mentioned, the food is extremely good, the ingredients superb, but I found the execution repetitious and far from cutting edge. Barber brought in guest chefs, and that was a lot more interesting, but my overall impression was of a restaurant rooted in middle age. That being said, you do get a very good meal there, and it was always the place where I would take out of towners. Now for a quarter of the price, they get a better meal at Ibiza.

[Robert_Dentice]

My wife and her brother had dinner there a number of years ago. Her take > Overrated. Dan Barber sounds like a psychopath.

This is just silly. Putting aside the allegations in the article and Dan Barbers reputation, you can’t deny the quality of the food and experience.

Actually, as I mentioned, the food is extremely good, the ingredients superb, but I found the execution repetitious and far from cutting edge. Barber brought in guest chefs, and that was a lot more interesting, but my overall impression was of a restaurant rooted in middle age. That being said, you do get a very good meal there, and it was always the place where I would take out of towners. Now for a quarter of the price, they get a better meal at Ibiza.

I think I liked it more than you. The lack of cutting edge and focus on ingredients is probably what I liked the most. And I am a fan of cutting edge. I am definitely going to check out Ibiza.

[Mark_Golodetz]

Let me know; always happy to find an excuse to go.

[Nathan_V]

Kitchen Confidential was written quite a while ago and established the romance of the abusive kitchen life. Younger chefs are trying to move away from the abusive model though clearly a fine dining kitchen during service is an intense and adrenalin filled place to work - the two chefs on my family love it for that adrenalin along with their love of feeding people and bringing joy. Unfortunately the “romance” tales legitimize bad behavior and allow diners to excuse it as the norm or inevitable.

Exactly. And people forget the chapter where he talks about other ways to do it. Real restaurants don’t have environments like this anymore (or any real workplaces). The pirate ships all sank.