Hearth

Went to Hearth over the weekend with a friend, she was eager to try it. We were late for our reservation, and the hostess couldn't have been nicer, our waiter was also a pleasure, unfortunately the food did not live up to the service, or the price-tag. We decided to get the $77 tasting menu, it was 5 courses, which is perfect - not too much food - but the dishes themselves were bland; there was nothing exciting or exceptional, and for $77 per person, there really should be. Perhaps the food ala carte is better, but the tasting menu was a complete (and expensive) disappointment. I feel no need to go back to Hearth - although the wine list was impressive, and we got a great Zweigelt for $37 (one of the cheaper bottles). Desserts were tasty, but the ""savory"" dishes were very under-seasoned, and well, again, bland. Anyway, I wanted to like it, but I really didn't... more

I had been wanting to try this place for a while, so when a friend and I ended up near it after a dinner out, we decided to stop by and have dessert and drinks to check it out. Glad we did, because now I know I will never be going back. The initial host was very nice and sat us promptly, but once we sat and then mentioned to our server that we were going to have just drinks & dessert (it was 10:45PM), the mood changed drastically. We barely saw out server after that, just the second hand servers. The dessert list was boring. They brought out our dessert so fast (it felt rushed), that my friend wasn't even back from the bathroom when it arrived. A good restaurant should pay attention to when their customers are ready for their food. The server brought our drinks AFTER we got our dessert. My friend was still gone, so he left the bottle of champagne on the table until she came back so he could pour it for her. Nothing special about the dessert we got and we didn't see our waiter again until we got the check. Highly disappointing evening. Pros: Nice decore. Cons: Aweful service. more

Met two friends for dinner on a cold Thurs night at 9pm. Tables were full but we didn't have to wait for our table (with reservation). Warm atmosphere was a welcome from the cold. Wonderful wine list and great wines by the glass ($8-$12). Greeted with a lentil soup amuse that was perfect. We opted for the tasting menu and one friend asked for a substitution which was easily honored. All of us were surprised by the ample portions presented for the tasting. Lobster ravioli was excellent as the scent of orange zest wafted towards us even before the plate was placed (abundant lobster meat). The nantucket scallops paired with sweet dates and savoy cabbage was a delightful play on flavors. Main courses (ribeye and bass) were staple but the beginning courses satisfied the palate the most. Dessert was a bit of a disapointment as the coconut souffle was too heavy on the shredded coconut (amuse of passion fruit semifreddo was better). However, the service was spot on (not sure why others have had so many issues) i.e. water refilled, wine on request, more bread all with pleasant, smiling servers and waitstaff. Will return as season changes to check out more dishes. Pros: warm environment, wine list, flavorful dishes Cons: can get a little loud more

I can't say enough about this place. But if I had to make just one comment, it'd be this: the people at Hearth know what a great dining experience is supposed to be like, they work very hard to make it happen, and they succeed. Pros: Food, Service more

Sitting right up at the kitchen offers a stellar view of the eclectic heart of Hearth. Marco (owner/chef) was a pleasure, offering up his take on the menu and appropriate beverage choices. The food was excellent. Seared scallops for an appetizer were crisp and flavorful. A sushi grade yellowtail appetizer was zesty and fresh. Main courses of duck papardelle and striped bass were prepared to perfection. Not to mention a superb wine list. Highly recommended. Pros: excellent food, staff, wine more

I expected alot more based on the reputation and prices. My calamari salad was one of the best I've had, but my fish dish was bland. I wasn't impressed. more

Been there twice for dinner and can't wait to go back Let's start off with reservations.. simple and easy via opentable. Everyone (hostess, waiters, busboys) at the place is pleasant, friendly and attentive. The menus change with the seasons (i.e. in season ingredients) and the wine list is vast (but a bit overpriced). Everything felt ""clean"" when I ate it. Nothing was overly seasoned or overly cooked. The fresh ingredients were evident with each portion. Decor is casual and cool. Pros: food, service, fresh ingredients Cons: overpriced wine list more

I'm a native NYer, so I've been to amazing first-rate places and Hearth is far from the best. The meal for two started out well, had a nice wine that matched the tasting menu. It was a Friday night, but there were lots of empty tables around us. Decent service in the beginning but he knew nothing of wine and there was no sommelier.. after our main course, we had two more left, we were asked to move to the bar and give up our table for a large group that was coming. I mean I had never ever been moved from a table at a restaurant before, even casual places and I would certainly expect more from the $250 meal for two. So this was really off-putting and the hostess could sense that, but we were like uhm ok, so we sat at the bar. We watched as the disgruntled chefs were cursing and sweating, picking at the food with their fingers. We were offered one glass of sherry to make up for the moving, and the manager did come by or apologize! The hostess just said, ""arent you glad you moved? so you can see the kitchen?"" Appauling. As if this was normal procedure for restaurants! Absurd! Then we were done and looked for our waiter for 15 minutes, asking three other waiters for our check. Our original waiter had not checked in with us once after we moved. How ridiculous. Needless to say, what started out as an ok meal, ended on a low note. Also for the $, Hearth definately needs improvements (in service obviously), but also in some of the food. Wide range of great to so-so & salty. To the managers/ owners of Hearth, if you want to put on the guise that you run a classy restaurant, you have to put the effort into it and get with it. This is NYC, where a better restaurant is opening just around the corner... seriously people go elsewhere, this place is not worth the time for any reason, go spend your $ elsewhere. Don't make the same mistake we did. Pros: not too crowded, some of the food Cons: service, rest of the food more

It was a quiet Sunday night, so getting a table and the service were not a problem. The ambiance was very relaxing. The Autumn menu looked great, the dishes we had were amazingly tasty and had very respectable portions to match. I want to go back every change of season. more

The place is great. The food is really good - it sounds off the wall but it's exactly what you want. It is a bit pricey, but if you're reading these reviews, then it's not going to be a surprise. more

The first two visits had a lot of highlights so we thought a third time might reveal a tighter focus on a top quality dining experience. Instead, it was a bigger disappointment. The woman I've known as the sommelier was unable to help us choose because she was distracted at another table by a couple who schmoozed her for over an hour. Food was good to very good but there were looong waits between courses. There should have been one or two more wait staff as well as more kitchen staff. A table of ten loud Euro types with a cacophonous chorus of perfumes and colognes was seated next to us. When paying this much, close to $400, one is renting real estate (a table) with the expectation of being able to carry on a conversation and linger over a meal. It became excruciating and instead of luxuriating with a food high we became desperate to leave with an earache. Unable to wait any longer for the first of two desert courses to arrive we asked for a check. The waiter was embarrassed by our discomfort and seated us at another table. Unfortunately it was next to the kitchen and, as he pointed out, was a bit warm. The worst part was that it smelled of burning cooking grease. Pros: wine list Cons: inconsistent in many ways more

While the decor is fairly simple the wine list and food are spectacular. I didn't understand the previous reviews that complained about food quality or service issues as I have enjoyed two wonderful meals here. Both times knowledgeable servers walked us through an interesting and enjoyable wine list that my wife and I thoroughly enjoyed. Pros: Food quality, wine list, service more

A spontaneous date at Heath afforded a number of suprises with pure and vibrant food combinatons, jewel-like wines and a truly hospitable atmosphere. While this was a rather brief dinner, I can't wait to return as everything was truly right on target. Bravo! Pros: overall warmth and healthy vibe Cons: none to list more

The atmosphere is wonderful, the service is excellent. Paul picked out the wines throughout our meal and was not disappointed. Marco's meals were just a piece of heaven in your mouth. Pros: Ambience, service, food. more

This was one of the most disappointing dining experiences, as my expectations after reading the reviews here were met short. First, the customer service at Hearth is topnotch. I had read (again, here) which items on the menu were suggested.The marinated sardines appetizer was one sardine (very good, though), the veal was lacking in taste. The lamb was very good, cooked to perfection, but the sausage served with it was very dry. Monkfish was just horrible across the board, overcooked and low quality, but I am not an expert with monkfish. The risotto was oversalted and difficult to enjoy, the duck was ok, the pasta dish very bland. The gnocchi was served overcooked, which I heard was the best in the city. The bread pudding, was just a mess. I'd have to say I think this place is very overhyped, but maybe just a very off night for the kitchen. Pros: service Cons: food more

I hadn't been here in a while and just went back and yet agian was thrilled with my meal and service. We had the tasting dinner for $75.00 quite lovely- kobe beef was excellent, I personally did not care for the coconut dessert but the rest was devine. Pros: Cozy, Casual Elegant, Yummy Cons: Little Loud more

Hearth has easily become our favorite restaurant over the past couple of years. The service was excellent and Marco Canora's cooking has never been better. We started with the Marinated Sardines and the Snapper Crudo. (to the complainer below, crudo=raw) We followed that with the Roasted Chatham Cod and the Monkfish Osso Buco. The kitchen graciously gave us a side of the gnocchi as well. Everything was paired with a bottle of Hans Lang Reisling. My wife chose Banana Cake for dessert, while I opted for a few pieces of cheese. All in all, it was a great evening. I see many comments here and at other sites mentioning ""small portions"". I wouldn't describe the portions as small as much as I'd say ""appropriate"". Also, the ingredients are of extremely high quality. Bottom line and no disrespect intended, some will not appreciate this style of restaurant and should go elsewhere. more

We took our out-of-town guests here, both big foodies who dine regularly at top-notch restaurants. The four of us were blown away: From the California wine country atmosphere and laid-back crowd to the apple cider doughnuts for dessert. The pumpkin and brown butter pasta is a MUST HAVE! We also loved the grilled octopus appetizer and the skate entree. Our waiter was attentive and knowledgeable. I ordered a dish not knowing it had anchovies, and he graciously exchanged it for another. The wine - I think it was a Carabella pinot noir - was sensational. We totally look forward to our next visit! more

My boyfriend and I went to Hearth to ring in the New Year and had an absolutely fabulous time! The atmosphere is nice and not pretentious or trendy. The food was incredible - apps, dinner, and dessert! The wine list was pretty lenghty - and was great because it offered me a ""taste"" of wine, in addition to just a ""glass"". And the service..... most likely the best service I've ever had out! The staff was very attentive even to the point that they would pair our food with other wine if we were disatisfied with our original choice. The prices are a bit high, but hey, this is New York - you certainly get what you pay for here! I highly recommend it! Pros: food , service, not pretentious! more

On a friends suggestion, I had dinner here last night. Place has a good vibe. The food was delicious. The waiter was great, very helpful. The wine list was a little confusing, and he really helped me out by making a great suggestion. The decor is nothing special... pretty minimalistic, but the food and service make up for it. I had the scallop appetizer and the lamb entree. So good... Pros: Service, Food Cons: Pricey, Decor more