Family Meal at Blue Hill

Lovely michelin starred farm to table dining experience with seasonal ingredients and cozy vibeI love a good farm to table place and this is one of them. They take their ingredients, especially vegetables, very seriously so what's not to love? Tucked in a quieter street by wsp, the restaurant has a cozy welcoming vibe that doesn't feel overly pretentious. Most guests were dressed smart casual. We were seated in the middle of the restaurant and found the service friendly and attentive. There isn't a menu per se since everything is seasonal and adjusted based on ingredient availability but just know you're in for a great four course family style meal. I loved every dish! The trout and squash were my favorite. We all walked out quite full so no worries on portion sizes.Definitely recommended if you're looking to celebrate a special occasion in a relaxed setting or just want to treat yourself! Only small inconvenience was that the bathroom towards the back was very cold (but hey it's winter after all and didn't really impact my dining experience)

Cozy and inviting restaurant nestled in a basement a few steps away from Washington square park. My partner and I love stone barns, so we were very excited to try Family Meal! Our waitress was very attentive and did an excellent job explaining the dishes and ingredients. Some highlights for me were the salad and the squash, but my favorite was the bread - so pillowy, soft, and fragrant. The other dishes were less memorable. The timing of the meal was a bit off - we waited quite a bit for our drinks, the first few courses came out very quickly, and then we again waited quite a bit for the salad and then the main course. All in all, the service was excellent, vibes were great, and food was good, but I had hoped for more exciting food experience.

Hey Dan. I'm pretty sure you're reading this, given what you've said about yourself on television and the impression I got when we met. So I'll skip to the straight dope.The room, as always, is a pleasure - warm, inviting, welcoming, especially on a chilly evening. The service is also very good, with particular kudos to the sommelier, who was really knowledgeable and didn't try to upsell us (hopefully that's okay with you). It did take a while for our table's lone cocktail to make it to the table. I'm a pretty firm believer that food shouldn't be served until the drink order is filled.Anyway, the food. Great product as always, but a few niggles. We had two dishes that sort of sat in a green broth. Looked similar, tasted different. One was underseasoned, one overseasoned. Apart from that, everything savory was pretty tasty. Very nice seafood preparations.Dessert was a bit of a disappointment. A crumble with yogurt? We could make that at home. In fact, the crumble was sort of a warm granola, which left us feeling like we'd had breakfast for dessert. Maybe something a bit more soigné would make a better end to the meal.So overall a good night, though maybe not quite Michelin-worthy. Our guests from out of town said they hadn't eaten so well in a while. Just a few things that the more experienced and perspicacious NYC diners might want to see improve...P.S. We dithered about coming in, given the revelations a couple of years back about the working environment and practices at Stone Barns. Obviously Family Meal doesn't make the same claims about the food, and I haven't seen anything negative about the staff. We hope things have improved upstate.

Honestly the setting was stunning, the mood and energy so relaxing, basking in the sun having some good food outdoors and doing a mini hike afterwards. So niceService was cafeteria style, but even then the servers walk you through the entire meal.Only issue is the price. Personally I found it a bit steep for what it is. But definitely worth the experience.

Everything was absolutely delicious! From the tomato dishes to corn dishes to drinks, truly a unique blend of vegetables and sauces. I had the vegetarian courses and could not recommend more. Staff is very kind and knowledgeable of the menu. Respectful of allergies. Takes about 2 hours for two people. Only con is the dessert at the end, personally I was not impressed and did not love it. Bathrooms are clean.

Came here to celebrate my friend making partner last night. I thought this spot was amazing. Every course was unique and delicious, my favorites were the fish centric ones. I thought the main course (beef) was good but less impressive than everything else. I had the merlot which was great. The cocktail was amazing as well. Everything was amazing

Still exceptional, all these years later. From their service to their beautiful presentation, I loved every single bite. The ambiance is still fantastic and they go out of their way to make you feel welcome. I wish I could point out what specific thing or things I enjoyed the most, but alas, I just loved everything lol. If anything, this made me want to book a table at Stone Barns, just so I relieve that magical experience all over again.

No wonder Michelin awarded a star. Family Meal at Blue Hill has it all.This stylish little neighborhood gem offers warm, personal service from friendly servers and staff, and the entire dining experience felt like a visit to the chef's kitchen table. I sat at the bar, and the bartender's polished yet genial presentation made for a relaxed and truly enjoyable dinner service.The parade of dishes per course reminded me of my meal at Sketch in London (3 Michelin stars) for its delightful storytelling and well-conceived menu. I loved the journey and appreciated the twists and turns along the way. My favorite dish of the evening was a stunning chowder made with fresh corn and lobster. I cherished every bite with my eyes closed so that I could focus my senses on those flavors, ironically simple yet deliciously complex.Dessert was a comforting delight. I wished I had the appetite to finish it.I will be sure to enjoy a "Family Meal' here every time I visit NY :)

TLDR: The food was delicious, but DEFINITELY not worth the price. Food was also extremely fresh thoughFOODAs we charted our way through the menu there were a few things that I will remember as being delicious. I enjoyed about 80% of the menu and some dishes were outstanding (I'm looking at you bread + potatoes).But there were some misses. 1) The portions were small - I wish for ~$250 a person (after taxes and tip) I had more than a small medallion of tenderloin 2) Some dishes were misses i.e., the salad, the halibut which lacked flavor, and the tuna crudo whose texture felt like it was put through a meat grinderSERVICEService was exceptional. Like 1/2-mich level service which I really appreciated. I liked that our server intimately knew the menu and talked about the farm. There is also coat and bag check which is greatATMOSPHEREReally great atmosphere - love the vibe of the restaurant. Sheek and clean. Bathroom was fantastic and love that they have their own brand of soapVegetarian options: If you let them know of your dietary restrictions ahead of time, they can accomodate vegetarian restrictions

If you have an opportunity to eat at Family Meal, do it! It is an incredible dining experience and wonderful for a special occasion. First, the ambience. It is dark and intimate but the tables still ranged from large groups to couples. Knowing their whole concept is "family meal" I was initially concerned if it would be appropriate for a couple. They adjusted the food amount accordingly and we felt comfortable the whole time. There is no menu. It is a prefixed 4 course meal based on seasonal ingredients, while accommodating allergies and dietary restrictions. The staff were very knowledgeable about each dish, explaining all the ingredients and where they were sourced. This is farm to table served at an upscale level without being pretentious. The palette opener was a quartet of cucumber and aioli, which was pleasant enough. The first course was a crudo trio with striped bass, fluke and brook trout -- each prepared and flavored differently. The curdo felt very luxurious and was fun to try. The second course was monk fish with peas, romano beans, and an entire flatbread. Calling it a "flatbread" does not do it justice -- it was like a flatbread and naan had a pillowy baby that was absolutely delicious! Wish I could eat that bread everyday. The greens were also fresh and vibrant. Admittedly, I do wish the monk fish portion was a pinch bigger (it was our fish time having monk fish and would have loved more of it!). The third course was chicken from the Blue Hill Farm, freekeh and a caesar salad of dino lettuce. Again, another course of outstanding ingredients packed with flavor. I can't recall the ingredients of the chicken jus, but boy was it good! For dessert, we had vanilla ice cream with short bread and granola crumble and strawberries. Service was attentive and the food was well-paced. We didn't wait too long between courses, nor ever felt rushed. The whole meal took a little over two hours. We absolutely loved the family style and small dishes as it enabled us to try many different flavors and foods. It gave us a strong understanding of their cooking style, and we cannot recommend it enough. When you go to a fancy Michelin star restaurant, you worry if you'll leave hungry and need to find the closest McDonalds. But fear not, we were utterly stuffed! Our bellies were full and our spirits happy!P.S. We opted not to do the wine pairing and ordered drinks a la carte. But I'm sure their drink recommendations would be great. P.S.S. Photos don't do the food justice (dark and romantic lighting) - go and let your tastebuds experience it!