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Food Below expectations. Service and environment were great.
Environment is great. Service was good. Food was below expectations. Black pasta didn’t have much taste. The octopus for appetizer was too hard (cooked beyond the point). The duck was ok. Finally the chocolate mouse was great but the coconut pudim was not that good.
We came with high expectations and the food was ok minus.
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I took myself out on a solo date here last night and it did
I took myself out on a solo date here last night and it did not disappoint. Everyone who was working was incredibly nice and welcoming. Ryan was wonderful, he was attentive, knowledgeable, and friendly, and Guillermo, the sommelier, was fantastic. He answered all my questions about the wine, gave great recommendations, and worked with me on a substitution for the Chardonnay as I'm not a fan.I had the chef's tasting menu with the sommelier wine pairing. All the food was wonderful, timed out perfectly, and the 7 courses left me full but not overly so. The butternut squash was my favorite course, followed very closely to the steak tartare.I look forward to returning soon.
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For a Michelin star restaurant, I expected the food to be
For a Michelin star restaurant, I expected the food to be better. It is considered Italian, but the special pasta of the day was okay at best. The filet, however, was super soft and full of flavor. And the beef tartare was one of the best appetizers I've ever had. 10/10 would recommend that to start off your meal!
Guess I'm going against the grain among a sea of "Zomg, my first Michelin-starred restaurant!!!!1" and "We celebrated our aNniVeRsAry here!!!!" 5-star reviews.Ai Fiori was average at best. We did the four-course prix fixe and got the Tartare di Carne and Polipo to start; the Trofie Nero and Spaghetti for pasta; the Astice as both entrees; and the Torta di Limone and Cubetto di Cioccolato for dessert. To imbibe, we got the Royal Blush and the Rubies and Roses.In terms of technique, the dishes/drinks were all prepared, cooked and presented well. But nothing was particularly noteworthy, and some things like the Astice had me scratching my head. Why pair a succulent lobster tail, lentils and savory buerre sauce, with julienned apple drowning in sour vinaigrette? The vinaigrette was so pungent that I couldn't even enjoy the lobster and lentils because it kept seeping into that side of the plate--and the smell was awful.Where Ai Fiori really lost me was the service. Our server was nice but barely there. It took us 10 minutes of sitting at our table with no menus before she even appeared. And trying to flag her just to get the bill was a 20-min exercise in frustrating futility. I know restaurants are struggling with service issues right now, but there were so many staff milling around that I don't think this particular case was due to to a lack of personnel. It just seemed like poor organization.Clientele is a mix of old white men who look like extras on Billions, trustafarians, trendy couples, and botoxed ladies who look like extras on Real Housewives.I've had better experiences at pasta restaurants with no Michelin stars. Ai Fiori was a letdown.
Service is unparalleled, ambiance is super classy. Happy hour is a strict 5-6 pm on weekdays but they're super accommodating and remind you to put all your drink orders in before it wraps up at 6. The appetizer-size pastas ($15) are my favorite, especially the trofie nero. Best squid ink pasta I've had with its scallops and breadcrumbs, very evenly balanced. My husband loves the Ai Fiori burger and orders it every happy hour. As for drinks, our favorite is the Rubies & Roses punch. It has some rose water and tea in it - I could literally drink a gallon of it, not even joking. Goes down super smooth and very refreshing. It's like an adult, slightly muted and elevated version of an Açaí Strawberry refresher from Starbucks with rose instead of strawberry. Simply amazing. This is our favorite happy hour places in Manhattan and we're going to keep coming back!
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Came here for my birthday dinner.
The drinks are very well crafted. Enjoyed the 4 course menu selection. The beef tartar melt in your mouth. The lobster spaghetti had quite a kick but I had to eat it all. The veal is divine and such a large dish. Ended the night with the affagato. Amazing experience.
My husband and I recently visited to celebrate our wedding anniversary and we indulged. We both selected the chefs tasting meal paired with a wine tasting. Each dish was better than the last and our sommelier paired our wine excellently. In fact we had a second glass of the Greco Di Tufo at the bar on our way out. When making our reservation I made sure to inform the restaurant of my diet restrictions due to a personal health condition and their attention to this detail was greatly appreciated. Not only did they confirm my diet restriction when confirming our reservation, but the hostess confirmed again when we arrived and our waiter also confirmed prior to our meal. We very much enjoyed our meal and wine selections, our experience overall was top tier and we will gladly visit again in the future. We would like to thank the entire staff for a wonderful, unforgettable evening.
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Zero complaints! This place is stellar all around.
I booked a dinner reservation a few weeks before to celebrate my fiancé's 30th birthday. We've been wanting to come here for awhile, especially since we live close by. I'm so glad we finally made it as Ai Fiori is now in our top 5 favorite restaurants in the world and even tops a 2 Michelin star restaurant we love in Barcelona!To start, the floral decor along the stairs is beautiful and inviting. The hostess was friendly, and the restaurant was set to a nice temperature. The tables are slightly too close to each other for a fine dining experience, though. We went with the four course prix fixe with wine pairing. I had wanted to do the tasting menu but fiancé doesn't love seafood and didn't want to eat the vegetarian menu. The wine pairing was perfect, and the sommelier was super knowledgeable about every wine. The ingredients were fresh and high quality. Everything we ordered was delicious, not overly salty, and we left very happy and full. The highlights: Steak tartare, fluke crudo with American sturgeon caviar, mezzaluna - squash ravioli with brown butter, Nova Scotia lobster, and wine pairingOne thing we must note is that the portions are fairly big, so come hungry! We were happily surprised as not only were we starving, but every fine dining experience we've had offered tiny portions (as expected).We will return for sure! $300pp well spent.
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Wow -- our dinner here was incredible.
First of all, the service is impeccable -- the entire staff is incredibly kind and attentive. Not more than a minute of finishing our courses went by without them clearing and cleaning the table.The food was delicious -- for two, we shared: the Polipo, Trofie Nero, and Anatra. The octopus was tender, charred perfectly, and came with delicious bits of pancetta with dabs beans. The trofie nero came in a light sauce with perfectly cooked scallops and toasted breadcrumbs (incredible). The duck was perfectly cooked with a sunchoke and pistachios -- my personal favorite dish of the meal.We had such a lovely experience here and would absolutely return in a heartbeat!
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Went to Ai Fiori last night with a buddy and had a great
Went to Ai Fiori last night with a buddy and had a great overall experience at this 1 star Michelin establishment. The space itself is very sleek and attached to The Langham hotel. The manager was hospitable as well as the hostess and waitstaff. I ordered the 4 course prix fixe offering including the caviar crudo, blue crab spaghetti, poached lobster, and the olive oil cake to finish. The highlight of the lineup was the blue crab spaghetti - such a simple concept executed to perfection. All other dishes were standard and nothing out of the ordinary (honestly thought the lobster was a little overcooked). Glad I was able to check another Michelin off the list but don't think anything would warrant a repeat visit.
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A delightful dining experience in a beautiful space.
Nero pasta was the highlight, only disappointment was the lobster being a bit overcooked.
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My husband and I really enjoyed this restaurant.
We had the octopus , veal agniolotti, duck and veal chop. Everything was delicious and the flavors were wonderfully balanced. Highly recommend and we will be going again next time we are in the city.
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Once pass the lobby ( slight left).
. the stairs decorated splendidly, you enter Al Fiore. There is a Well equipped bar, along with areas for seating.The Hostess( friendly, polite)checked our Vax and ID's and escorted us to the main dining area. It's beautiful, expansive, so pleased we had room to move and carry a conversation without feeling claustrophobic.Our server "Adam", greeted us, took our drink ordersand explained the menu. The service is impeccable. There is a constant flow of servers, with food,drink.We placed our orders. Adam made recommendations/accommodations for an allergy in our party.The crudo e caviale was bonne bouche!Each dish a feast for the eyes and and party for the palate!Our compliments to the Chef!What a meal!
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Tried to celebrate my wife's birthday here.
Unfortunately, from the moment we arrived we endured disappointment. Authoritarian mask, ID, and social distancing requirements enforced like no other place in NYC. Unpleasant hostesses. Entire service team was in cahoots to ruin our evening. Undercooked risotto. Undercooked veal. Over hyped tomahawk steak. Less than half the size advertised. Waiting 17+ minutes for your server to notice your glass is empty. Entire staff is encouraged to treat you like a Covid spreader. Complete negative atmosphere. THIS IS NO MICHELIN RESTAURANT!
All around awesome experience and highly recommend happy hour to try their main pastas and drinks at a slight discount. It was so good, and some of the best pasta I have had. Their drinks were so well crafted, and even allowed to have a sample of one of the drinks. Can't wait to go back!
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One of the best fine dinning experiences I've had & truly
One of the best fine dinning experiences I've had & truly deserving of a Michelin star. It was for a date night. The food was spectacular & we tried a variety. Drinks were amazing. For cocktails- give the Bungalow a try. & definitely try the Porte at the end. Service & ambience was awesome. We drive but we ubered here- makes for a better hassle free experience. It's in a hotel setting but you wouldn't notice. Pictures are worth a thousands words. But these foods & deserts are worth a try. You will not be disappointed. Butter amazing, caviar was the best, the black squid infused pasta was soo savory, the scallops & lobster pasta were all very tasty. The expresso infused ice cream & the pistachio ice cream were among my favorite deserts. Enjoy!
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Who gave this place a star??
I’ll say it again! Who gave this place a star?
The experience was honestly horrible and was shocked by how awful the service was. Two things that stuck out were:
1. My wife has a mushroom allergy and the person that served her the lobster soup noted that they didn't include the truffle. My wife noted that she wasn't allergic to truffle and the response was: "well it doesn't have either".
2. We didn't have drinks with any of our entrees and our server didn't come to the table for 5-6 minutes after each entree was served while we waited for drinks to eat.
These are the two things that stuck out but the service was honestly that of a fast food restaurant and not what I have come to expect from Michelin star restaurants. For the price they charge there are so many better options in NY. This feels like a place that was probably great at some point and just fell off. I am shocked that they have star based on my experience.
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Who gave this place a star?The experience was honestly
Who gave this place a star?The experience was honestly horrible and was shocked by how awful the service was. Two things that stuck out were:1. My wife has a mushroom allergy and the person that served her the lobster soup noted that they didn't include the truffle. My wife noted that she wasn't allergic to truffle and the response was: "well it doesn't have either".2. We didn't have drinks with any of our entrees and our server didn't come to the table for 5-6 minutes after each entree was served while we waited for drinks to eat. These are the two things that stuck out but the service was honestly that of a fast food restaurant and not what I have come to expect from Michelin star restaurants. For the price they charge there are so many better options in NY. This feels like a place that was probably great at some point and just fell off. I am shocked that they have star based on my experience.
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I appreciate a restaurant where customer service is top
I appreciate a restaurant where customer service is top notch, the food is extraordinary, and the atmosphere is beautiful. Ai Fiori is the epitome of that. The food is consistently superb. This restaurant has phenomenal customer service. Damien is exemplary of excellence. He remembered my husband's food allergies from the last time we were at Ai Fiori. He also remembered that we brought friends to celebrate their engagement 3 months prior. Damien made us feel special and welcome. He was highly attentive and everything was to satisfaction with our order. Ai Fiori is one out favorite restaurants in NYC. We will definitely return.
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Take Out is Not As Good
We have dined inside the restaurant on many occasions and decided to try take out. They have a 2 course special and we were a bit disappointed. The salad was very good and the lobster risotto was fine. But the pasta bolognese was a tiny portion and the pasta was just okay. The meatballs were also just average, although the tomato sauce was authentic and delicious. Would probably not do take out again.
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My bf took us for Valentine's Day.
After tips and tax, the meal came up to $650 for two people. The question is, was it worth it? The tasting menu was truly incredible!We started off with the canapé. Foie gras mousse, chocolate,brioche. This was more like a dessert. It was super creamy, sweet yet savory? I wouldn't want to have foie gras any other way ever again. Crudo di capesanteTorched scallops miso yuzu pearls and calabrian peppersWas absolutely genius. We love the yuzu pearls and how it added such a nice touch to the eye and texture to the taste. The Calabrian pepper was more of a garnish to me than to add flavor to the dish. PolipoOctopus a la piastra, gigante beans, guancile, the squid was cooked to perfection, to plate it with beans was unique and definitely worked out really well. Risotto Riso acquerello, lobster, apple, stracciatella, chives.The lobster was perfect, the apples crunchy sweet notes help balance out the creamy risotto.agnolotti Veal breast ravioli, butter, parmigiano, truffle, sugo. We were so excited to try their handmade pastas. It was a truffle heaven on a plate. If you are a truffle lover you would have loved this! The veal was so tender and flavorful. ippoglossoPan-seared halibut, sunchoke, Brussels sprouts, meyer lemons. Brussel sprouts is not a popular vegetable amongst most people we know, including my boyfriend, however, whatever they did to the brussel sprouts, got my boyfriend wanting more. It was absolutely delicious. We had no idea white fish was suppose to be JUICY?? It was the most incredible bite ever! The top was seared to a perfect crisp, while the fish's white silky meat melts in your mouth. stracottoBraised herb crust short rib, polenta, turnips, bordelaise was so tender, you didn't even need a knife to break it apart. The meat was extremely rich in flavor as well. The polenta on the side was perfect, we loved the mini carrot and turnip garnish, the plating reminds me of a garden in your backyard. Absolutely adorable.For the intermezzo, we had lemon sorbet. We wouldn't want to clean our palate any other way.Lastly for dessert, I got the tiramisu and my bf got this vegan dessert that wasn't on the menu. The tiramisu was PERFECT. Honestly I did not think such a dainty bite could be so perfect. The chocolate sorbet wasn't too sweet either. Almost like dark chocolate. The vegan dessert was lovely. My bf loved his dessert, the syrupy yet light dessert won his heart. Overall this spot was a delicious delight. The creativity put into each dish blew our minds. The service was amazing as well, we had the best Valentine's Day.
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The entire experience was terrible.
The night started with standing by door and wait for 40mins past reservation time. some other guests had to leave because it s too long. Food was ok but definitely not one star level. Service also bad, mostly due to short staffed. Won't come back again.
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Amazing food and service
We went for my 30th birthday and the staff were incredible. Amazing food and lovely venue. Would definitely recommend
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Truly excellent experience
My wife and I had dinner at Ai Fiori a few nights ago. We had not tried it before. The experience was excellent. The room is very understated but very attractive. The sound level was not loud, but not quiet - it was just a nice lively but acceptable background din. The wine list is pretty impressive. Our meals were quite good. The service was attentive.
I heartily recommend this place if you're looking for upscale Italian.