I couldn't find a good thread about Blue Hill (not Stone Barns), so I started a new one. Just had dinner there this evening. Thought I would provide a short review. Please DO NOT expect high-quality writing. My overall rating: 2 1/2 stars. Although the food wasn't necessarily incredible, it really was really a terrific evening. We sat in the back room (I think this is the garden when it isn't autumn/winter), which was really nice- so quiet it was almost creepy... and beautiful at the same time. You could speak with such a low voice and just relax. Delicious gin and tonic and other mixed drinks. Really nice wine with a good selection. Unusally good bread with good butter... very nice amuse of turnip soup Apps (the best part, as is so often the case): Tried delicious tomato soup with zucchini dumpling, lettuce ravioli, and bean salad. All were quite flavorful and enjoyable. They left me very hopeful for the entrees. Entrees: didn't try the meat (interesting looking chicken), but they gave us vegetarians something that wasn't on the menu (they were quite accomodating about this). It was a rice noodle and wild mushroom soup with lettuce. The portion looked miniscule (ended up being more than enough food in the end after all the bread, wine, drinks, etc.) - it was nice but not as satisfying as I was hoping for (and our watiress knew it) - this dish just didn't hit the spot for me or for others. Desserts: delicious - good cheese paired with interesting items like grapes and herbs (have no recollection of what they actually were), very good chocolate and caramel bread pudding. The server -unsolicited - then brought out raspberry souffles (sp) served with pistachio ice cream. These were truly incredible and a nice last touch (well there were coconut marshmallows, but they were of no interest to me). Leads me to service - unbelievably good, honestly the best I've had in NY. Our waitress/server/whatever was really top notch. She was friendly yet not intrusive. And just generally very good - answered questions about the menu well, took back an undercooked salmon dish without any hesitation, asked us veggies if we were ok with our main course dish, etc... Made the evening very pleasant. So, no food I will remember past next month, I am sure, yet I will be sure to be back. It was just a pleasant evening. I'd be curious to find out what other egulleters would suggest for a similar experience.
