Essential by Christophe Review

Instagram made us do it. Actually it was Daniel Boulud’s Instagram to be exact, when he posted on his visit to Essential by Christophe. We were immediately intrigued but then we realized it was a restaurant on the Upper West Side. It takes a lot to get us to eat in this neighborhood, but if it’s good enough for Daniel. So what is the verdict? Here’s our review of this fine dining restaurant by Christophe Bellanca.

Overview

Essential by Christophe is in the old Dovetail space near the Museum of Natural History. This space is kismet, as Dovetail was one of the better restaurants on the Upper West Side. Like Essential by Christophe, it was fine dining, but wasn’t a place that you would go every week. Essential by Christophe must have learned a lesson from its predecessor. Under their watch, there’s a prix fixe only dining room, but a nice bar area where neighborhood regulars can come by for elevated every day eats. This is the review of Essential by Christophe, a modern French restaurant and one of the better restaurants on the Upper West Side of New York City.

Atmosphere

Essential by Christophe had good bones to work with, in the former Dovetail space. Dovetail was always sleek, modern and minimalist, which carries on in its latest rendition of Essential by Christophe. However it’s an art to create a restaurant that feels high-end without feeling pretentious or trying too hard, which Essential does. They’ve created fine dining that’s not a hushed environment, but rather one that is comfortably lively.

The other issue with restaurants on the Upper West Side is the crowd isn’t generally good people watching. Essential by Christophe has created a strong enough buzz that you have a diversity of diners unique to the neighborhood. This is not to say you have super models running around, but it is an elegant foodie crowd. They’ve also achieved a nice bar scene, where you would be comfortable to drop in for a drink or full dinner at the bar. Essential by Christophe hits all the right vibes for an elegant yet relaxed night out.

Food + Wine

Most of the time I gloss over the wine part of this section because there’s nothing extraordinary to say. In fact since the pandemic, one of the gripes I have in even top restaurants is that it’s they’ve stopped trying on the wines by the glass list. Most restaurants lately the wines are all crap by the glass, or they charge you $75 to get a decent, not great, wine on the Coravin program. However on Essential by Christophe’s list, that’s not the case. One my recent visit there was a 2016 Calon Segur and a 2013 Louis Jadot, for $35 and $25 respectively. This is almost unheard in NYC, much less for restaurants on the Upper West Side. The cocktails are also expertly made by the easy-going bartending staff.

Now Onto the Food

In a word, the food is spectacular at Essential by Christophe. Normally these tasting menus or fine dining restaurants just try too hard. Or they douse the food in so much butter and cream that you feel like butterball when you leave. Most French restaurants show their lack of skill and creativity by relying on food that’s just heavy. Essential by Christophe for sure uses butter and cream, but they do it with such refinement that you don’t feel like the food is rich at all. It’s modern, light French, and the food that you would return for on a weekly basis.

There are two options at the restaurant. First you can do the full monty, and sit in the dining room for a three, four or seven hour menu, which range from $125 to $215. This is one of the restaurants on the Upper West Side where it’s worth it to opt for the tasting menu. What makes Essential genius though is their bar menu up front. They have one booth table and about 14 seats at the bar, where you can order à la carte. In my opinion, this is what will give Essential a shot at longevity among the restaurants on the Upper West Side. The food is prepared so elegantly and light yet filling, so you can come here any night of the week. And unlike other fine dining places, you won’t break the bank or need a slice of pizza on the way home.

A Few Favorite Dishes

Where to start here is tough, so I’ll start with the amuse bouche that everyone receives, even the bar diners. This vegetarian terrine in a small cup of goodness reminds me that I’m just a novice chef. With something that looks like carrot, spinach and other layers of delicious, you spoon in each bite and want to savor the moment. In fact, all I wanted at that point was a meal size version of the amuse. But then there’s the prawns with caviar and a dill and chive bouillon, and a barely seared scallop with fine grill lines I’ve never seen before. There’s also a soufflé in a lobster veloute that takes you next level happiness.

For more ample bites, there’s a burger with prime beef and French fries, as well as a lobster with penne. It’s all excellent, and the pricing is a reasonable range of $24-$48. The food is one of the best values in NYC, no matter what route you choose.

Service

You know a place has something special when their team is genuinely passionate about working there. This is the case of Essential by Christophe, which hits that perfect balance point of fine dining but genuine and approachable service. There is no “I” in team at Essential by Christophe. The staff is coordinated, from the time you are greeted by the hostess, all the way through to the bar to when you’re seated for dinner. There is no pretense whatsoever although the whole service experience is polished and professional while being human.

First, a big shout out to the bartending staff who not only serve up solid drinks but make you want to become a regular. Secondly, you’ll see throughout the dining room that the interaction with the team isn’t small talk. It’s real conversations, whether about the passion for the food or someone sharing a personal story. This is rare in NYC, but especially on the Upper West Side. Essential by Christophe is tops in service though, no matter where they would be located.

Overall: 8.3/10

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FAQ’s

Q: Where is Essential by Christophe located?

A: Essential by Christophe is one of the restaurants on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. Its address is as follows: 103 W 77th St, New York, NY 10024.

Q: What are Essential by Christophe’s hours of operation?

A: Essential by Christophe’s hours of operation are as follows:

Q: Do you have to do the prix fixe menu at Essential by Christophe?

A: Essential by Christophe offers an a la carte menu in their bar.