BLT Market

**The five stars are from my experience before chef Laurent Tourondel left**
The brunch at BLT Market was mind-blowing…I was in heaven. Yes, angels were singing. It was a cold winter day and heading into BLT Mkt and starting with a blueberry mimosa was the best way to warm me up!
The pop-​overs, eggs benedict and more were amazing… although I haven’t been back since Tourondel left and it seems like it went downhill… didn’t get a good grade with the health department in late 2011. And many sites say it’s now closed.
None the less it turned me onto Tourondel, who’s cookbook had many of our fave’s from brunch so we make it at home now.

I went on ¹²⁄₃ for dinner. The place is cold, the seats and tables are very bare. I like everyone else loved the complimentary pesto garlic bread and pigs in a blanket, I wish they served it as a meal. I had the MUSHROOM STUFFED AMISH CHICKEN which was very good but not 29 dollar good. my Bf had 7 PEPPER CRUSTED NY STEAK AU POIVRE ($ 45) which he didnt like at all it was so peppery that he could barely eat it. The room was also very noisy I know everything my neighbors were talking about. The service was excellent! We wanted to change tables but they needed the table for a later reservation. The manager came over to apologize to us. I think it was just to expensive for what we got.

Stumbled upon this restaurant and its Fall Menu, which seemed to hold some interesting promise for my friend and me. We enjoy farm-​to-​table seasonal menus so why not, right?
What a bust! I had the butternut squash soup with cinnamon and maple crème fraîche — sounds delicious, but tasted like hand cream and pumpkin pie had a baby in my bowl. Ew. Flavor was too sweet (think cinnamon flavored instant oatmeal) and the consistency was gummy smooth. Speaking of gummy, the square little mystery bits in it were tasteless and inedible, like warmed Fruit Rollup, hold the fruit. The presentation was pretty, as was the delivery («broth» poured over crème dollop with greens, blah blah blah) but didn’t make up for it.
The accompanying cheese sandwich with gruyère and smoked bacon was unfortunate. This is one of the easiest things to not screw up but the fake smoke taste of the chewy bacon piece paired with the bland, rubbery cheese on overly charred bread was just not doing it. Good thing it was only the size of two fingers.
My friend had the octopus and was disappointed by the unevenly cooked piece which she deemed had too much char and not enough acid. Also, dubbing the dish as a «salad» was somewhat false advertising. She did, however, enjoy the steamed spinach with lemon and like everyone else on this board, the garlic bread (which we were told is parsley seasoned, not pesto).
Along with one glass of wine and one beer, the price hung around the $ 80 mark. Despite not enjoying the meal, I ate it out of pure hunger. An hour later, I was starving.
I give props to the waiter for being attentive to my allergy, and the ambiance was nice, but I will not be returning here for a meal.

Loved the complimentary pesto garlic bread and pigs in a blanket here! Everything else I tried (softshell crab, sea bass, and chocolate tart with salted caramel and hazelnut ice cream) was good, but not worth the overcharged prices. Not a bad place for a business dinner, but I wouldn’t come back on my own dime.

Went to BLT Market with a friend and boy did we get the star treatment. We were seated in the corner (my favorite place to sit) and the table was a great size. I hate siting down and not having enough room for my plate and cup at the same time.
We started with a charcuterie plate that had three types of paper thin meat and two «fancy pigs in a blanket». The pigs in a blanket had pastry, kobe beef «pig» and a slightly spicy mustard. The whole thing was great.
The bread that was brought out was toasty, warm, and filled with butter, basil, and parsley. It was FANTASTIC and we could have eaten a whole lot more.
We then each had the 5 course chef tasting menu. 1: tuna. 2: soft shell crab. 3: sea bass. 4: gnocchi 5: lamb chop. OMG I cannot stop thinking about this meal. Everything was perfect. The portions were very small but we had five plates so there was a lot of food.
To top everything off we then had a five desert tasting menu. In order of deliciousness:
1: Peanut butter and milk chocolate parfait. Topped with a chocolate puff and corn flake ice cream.
2: Blackberry and rhubarb cobbler with passion fruit seeds and brooklyn chocolate stout ice cream
3: Classic tiraisu
4: Cheese cake with raspberries
5: Cinnamon doughnuts
Complete with wine pairing for every plate this meal was probably the most amazing meal I have ever had.

We were seated at a perfect table for two. Sitting by the corner window we could see 6^th Ave and Central park. Unfortunately, that was the best part of our dining experience. We were there for dinner and nothing blew us away. Okay… the cheese plate was pretty darn good, but thats it. Nothing was bad, just not worth the $ 200 dropped on a dinner for two.
The bar outside of BLT (inside hotel) makes a pretty good cocktail & has a great seating area. Fun people watching at the Ritz.

The lunch menu at BLT is far more interesting than their breakfast menu. Unfortunately for me, last week, when I dined at BLT Market (not my first time), I could only order from the breakfast menu… pity. For the lunches here are most certainly worthy of a five star rating.
Breakfasts here are very good, but not great. Le hubby ordered the salmon and eggs benedict. Nice. And I ordered the much talked about french toast. Enjoyable, but I was really hoping the caramelized bananas that came with my french toast would be caramelized to the point that they’d resemble the tops of crème brûlée. (You know what I mean?)
Whatever. BLT Market is good. But is it great? Nah…

This is one of my favorite of the bistro laurent tourondels with a focus on the season and a menu that rotates frequently and cleverly provides a list of which season ingredients will star in your dishes that eve. this was probably my fifth or so time dining there, which means I have had the pleasure of experiencing it cross multiple seasons. past hits were a soft shell crab with a feathery crisp tempura shell. actually that made me go back again.
the ambiance is whitewashed, open, comforting. you want to linger. in the summer you want to linger longer if you are seated outside. décor echoes the seasonal approach to their menu. with artisanal goods being merchandised by the hostess stand.
back to the menu… winter brought a whole new shade of deliciousness, with a spread that begs you to be comforted. the amuse bouche is the chef’s ode to a new york classic… the hot dog. only this is no mere cornerstand hot dog. it is a beef and pork frank wrapped in what i suspect to be a version of the popover which stars in other blt restaurants. a little gruyère is baked on top and then served with classic mustard and sauerkraut condiments. i often wish they would bring me more. many, many, many more. but then they bring garlic bread. and i immediately forget that i want more of the dog.
starters ranged from the lighter seafood to the heavier fois gras. we had the hamachi served atop an avocado purée that was one of the creamiest forms of avocado i’ve ever had the pleasure of. hamachi was good too. but the avo… oh the avo. i couldn’t resist the blackboard special braised veal hangar steak and short rib pot pie. i mean you had me a braised. or hangar steak or short rib. but then to blend them and top with a flaky crust? stick a fork in me. so then i stuck a fork in it. sweet mother of all that is right and just in the world, it was good. neigh. it was phenomenal. rich, caramelized, balanced, mouthwatering. the meat was melty. the carrots and sundry root veggies were perfectly done. and the pastry top was grindy. it left me both satiated and wanting more.
arguably, i repeat arguably the hero of the meal was the dessert. a meyer lemon crêpe soufflé with little flecks of pomegranate. good god i wanted to live it in. and eat my way out every single day.
their wine list is kind of absurd. and features my pet austrian white, the rotgipfler. sigh. worth every cent and every drop. it will blow your mind if you are into that kind of thing.

I’ve come here a few times for lunch and for dinner and I’ve always been very satisfied with both the service and the food.
If you come here for lunch, the sunlight into this place is amazing. It’s right near the park so it really is a nice view. If the weather is warm, the restaurant is usually opened up to be really airy and pleasant. For dinner, the lighting is dim and romantic though I tend to think that the dining room is a little noisy when it gets busy.
Service is quick and helpful and extremely accommodating. The ingredients that they are seasonal so the menu is constantly changing which is nice. The in-​season ingredients are really fresh and amazing. if you like veggies, here is the place to order them. They cook fish perfectly. I will definitely be coming back.

All about the bread! Great bagette-​style bread, which is filled with a green, garlic sauce. This isn’t your ordinary garlic bread, whoever came up with the idea to have this buttery garlic concoction ooze out of the bread instead of baking it in is genius… by far the highlight of the meal. Even after I finished my main course I went back for more… reminds me of the butter-​garlic sauce often served with escargot except in this case poured onto delicious, fresh bread.
In case you actually want to order food after devouring the bread basket, I would definitely recommend the black cod. Restaurant is casual but nice, very good food and service… I’d give it 3.5 stars because I wasn’t blown away by anything (except the bread) and it’s a hotel restaurant in midtown (boring!)…that said i’d still happily return for a low key evening or nicer brunch!

I’ve been here three times and it’s safe to say that their food has been consistently good.
I like the location and the ambiance, works for groups for work or enjoy lunch after a stroll in the park. In the summer if you do sit outside just be mindful that you might be smelling horse shit for the duration of your meal (obviously not the fault of the restaurant just the location) Bright color scheme with a country feel. There are two dining rooms, the crowd is a bit older and businessy at times. You do see a lot of «lady» with hats here. hmm just an observation
I have to say i LOVE their garlic bread. omg it’s so good!!! I did notice that between the first time and the last time i went there they did reduce the portion of bread. LOL at first it was a whole stick then the last time i went they gave us half, but of course i asked for more HAHA
Good appetizers are the hamachi and softshell. The veal and port along with the lamb is what I would recommend. I really love the lamb :) This is also one of those places where I actually stay for dessert and tea/​coffee.
Overall a staple for me and a place I would recommend for couples or family dinners. (But they are closed on sundays!)

While staying at the Ritz, I caught a little cold so one night didn’t feel like straying too far for dinner… thankfully the BLT Market was right there!
I also got lucky because they were serving a dumpling soup with a hearty chicken stock base. The soup definitely warmed me right up but wasn’t the best, so I was ready to enjoy another little bite. I ordered the Maine Diver Sea Scallops which were cooked perfectly.
The management and server were fantastic. Since it was a bit late and the people at the front desk at the Ritz had mentioned I wasn’t feeling well, they sent me back with a to-​go cup of tea and a doggie bag of honey and tea packets just in case I wanted some more after dinner. Thoughtful, friendly service is always a golden key in my book!

Anyone who lives in New York knows this city has an abundance of exceptionally expensive restaurants — usually with a celebrity chef attached. And at any one of them, you can get an excellent meal. For about $ 150 a person, you’re guaranteed a meal punctuated with the standard ooh’s and ahhh’s.
That’s all fine and good, except for $ 150, I want something that’s going to blow my mind. For $ 150 I want rapture. For $ 150, I’m not afraid to say I want just a little more drama than I got from BLT Market.
Not that the meal wasn’t excellent. In fact, the tagliatelle was divine (though Del Posto’s is a smidge better), my chicken was perfection and the Manhattan I had before the meal began was perfectly finished with just the right splash of bitters. Still, despite the freshness of the ingredients and obvious expertise of the kitchen, I can’t give it that fifth star. If this dinner had cost me $ 80, it would get it. It would be a mid-​priced restaurant with food of a quality beyond its category. But unfortunately for that fifth, silent star, BLT Market is no mid-​priced restaurant, and for that reason, it’s simply par for its course.

I’m a fan of blt steak and prime, but this one missed the mark.
In a word, forgetable

Ah New York. How do I love thee??? With a meal at BLT Market that’s what!
I absolutely LOVE this place. I was in NY with some family and we decided to go here for dinner. We made a reservation since there was going to be 10 of us on a Saturday night. We were promptly sat upon arrival (we even arrived a few minutes early). Within 3 minutes, a server was getting us waters and asking us if we’d like to start with some cocktails… obviously. We put in our drinks and perused the menu. I actually decided on soup and salad, since I wasn’t THAT hungry. Usually ordering like this can make one a little nervous, however I was happily disappointed.
First, they bring this garlic bread in a bag… you think (Oh great… cheap overcooked bread), ummm wrong, let’s just say we told the server to «keep it coming». Seriously. Then we got the pigs in a blanket with this mustard and pesto sauce. TO DIE FOR!!! For my entrée, I got their soup of the day, French Onion with these HUGE delicious croutons with a spinach salad, that was so deliciously fresh. Everyone at the table thoroughly enjoyed their meals. All were also very appropriately portioned. No one left hungry.
For dessert, it was my cousins birthday and we had a cake made from next door (the Ritz)…this cake could have been on the Food Network’s cake contests. I also think this is the pastry chef BLT uses.
The service was so great, we always had someone tending to us. As soon as people finished, plates were picked up. We were not rushed in any sense of the word.
To sum, this place is NY Dining in all means of the phrase!!! I recommend, great for dates or for large parties.
GO! Have trust!

Went here today for lunch. They still bring out the pigs in a blanket and the yummy baguette with pesto inside it. For appetizers I had the hamachi. It was a well constructed dish but not very memorable (I wanted the soft shell crab but they had run out… by 12:30!) For mains I had the lamb, medium-​rare. It was cooked perfectly but because it came out in a pot, it was hard to cut the meat off. The table ordered a bunch of sides: mashed potatoes, broccoli, and hen of the woods. Though I’m not a huge mushroom fan I tried the hen of the woods and it wasn’t bad. The mashed potatoes and broccoli were excellent though.
Our waitress was really nice, and had a bit of sass. Half our table didn’t order an appetizer and she guilted them into sharing a salad so they would «have something to do while the guys ate.» It made sense, but once she left, we were like… wow, she totally made us get a salad.
No wine today, but I did had a double macchiato and it was pretty darn good. Just the right amount of milk.
All the food here is fresh and in-​season, simply prepared, and elegantly presented. I would definitely go again.

I was recently asked to set up a business diner with some very senior people in my company in mid-​town. On the advice of my girlfriend, I chose BLT Market and it certainly did the job. It is one of the few restaruants that will ask if it is a business dinner and temper its service accordingly. I was very impressed by that. All of this said, only the prices here are up to the standards of the rest of the BLT restaurants. What is it about a restaurant in a hotel that means your waiter has to be completely flaky and screw up orders?
Despite sub-​par service compared to what one would expect at the Ritz or BLT, I still really loved the food here. I had the duck and fois gras and it was absolutely fantastic. I also couldn’t help but mooch most of my boss’ Hen of the Woods mushrooms side, which was a bit awkward, but at least he understood why. The menu is allegedly seasonal, but remains fairly consistent throughout the year.
On my own dime, I’d probably head to one of the other BLT restaurants in New York, but on the expense account, this place will never do you wrong.

Today’s Sunday Brunch Challenge:
Where to eat that’s near lower Central Park before his tradeshow and in between my UES apartment painting super sessions?
With their $ 38 prefixe Sunday Brunch, I arrived at BLT Market in the Ritz Carlton (with paint still in my hair and hands) to enjoy our weekend ritual in between the rest of life. For an hour break, I forgot that I hadn’t yet mastered the art of painting-​your-​apartment-​yourself, and felt more like I was in a rustic country café with garden fresh food on the table.
BLT Market wins the BEST CROQUE MONSIEUR EVER AWARD from me (and Bo who was the first to ever order this at Pastis) for their unique croissant bread choice drizzled with melted cheese. We also loved the double-​fried french fries scented with fresh rosemary twigs and the roasted tomatoe with breadcrumbs. I hope BLT doesn’t mind… As a souvenir, I kept the clothes pin for the menu — haven’t seen those in ages!
Now I have a sweet spot near Central P to bring friends, family and visitors.

I came to BLT Market for brunch with my dad, brother and his gf. I’ve always wanted to try one of the BLT restaurants.
As other Unilocalers mentioned, it is $ 35 for an entrée and a drink. If you want to pay $ 10 dollars more, you can choose from 4 or 5 regular dishes. (This took us a while to figure out by the way because our waiter was a dumdum and the menu confusing.)
In any case, I am not a fan of eggs, so a good brunch spot for me constitutes of a place that can offer me dishes without eggs. They had a few options I could go for but really not as interesting dishes as the egg dishes (which tends to be the case.)
I ordered their burger which has blue cheese and rosemary fries. It was really good, was done just they way I like it (medium rare) and the fries were pretty good too though a little soggy. The dish came with two baby sized bottles of ketchup and of mustard. Cutest bottles I have ever seen!!! AND they were sealed!!! When I asked for mayo they also gave me a baby mayo bottle. I seriously wanted to steal it. but I am a good girl… I also ordered a side dish of maple sausages which were sooo good, they really did taste like they were made with maple syrup. I also tried the roasted tomato, I think it had cheese on it. Wasn’t the most spectacular dish, but was ok.
In any case, this place was good though perhaps I would have had more options at Balthazar’s…

*lunch
The outside table we were seated at offered a great way to people watch and enjoy the sun (yay!). the inside of the restaurant looked really nice and cool (in terms of temp.) but still glad we sat outside. (not sure if it matters for lunch, but you might have to dress a bit nicer to eat inside.)
Loved the PIB free appetizer but i could’ve easily gone for ones at a bar. in fact, i might like the one at a bar better because the hotdog is smaller.
For appetizers, we got the asparagus, Diver Sea Scallop Salad, and the special shrimp. The bed of salad that came with the shrimp was really good — not sure what was in it but there were tons of diff. flavor. I really expected the scallop to be amazing because of the Old Bay seasoning, but it tasted as if it was raw? The others loved it but I guess i’m not much of a seafood person.
For my entrée, I had the Pan Seared Striped Bass Chinese Style. it was AMAZING. LOVED the sauce. Portion a little on the large side but still perfect. The others at the table had the lobster, the cod (that from a tasting also was great! had a semi-​sweet glaze) and the tuna sandwich, which looked interesting.
Skip the chai if you like it sweeter, a bit spicy, and creamier.
Fries (shoestring) are pretty good — slightly soggy but still OK.
3 stars for fantastic location and fab entrees.