Veritas Restaurant

I did something last night that could have been disastrous: for my anniversary dinner, I chose a restaurant that I had never been to, and then prepaid for dinner with a voucher. My husband and I had all but resigned ourselves to being forced to accept the cheapest entrees on the menu and dismissive service.
But then – Veritas, you classy restaurant! You very subtly acknowledged my voucher, allowed me to choose from any appetizer and entrée on the menu (even the fancy specials!), treated us with the utmost kindness, and sent over an almost absurd array of free bites.
The (normal) prices here are well within the range of «nice dinner,» but the dishes are thoughtfully composed and generously portioned. I know salmon can be a homely entrée, but at Veritas, it somehow gets a crunchy, flavorful, chewy exterior – kind of like a fishy pork belly – while retaining an almost sushi-​grade raw meltiness on the inside. Loved. The salted caramel pudding was weirdly addictive and much improved by the plate of complimentary dippable mini-​cookies and tarts on the side. And when our waiter dropped off some free muffins with our check «for breakfast tomorrow,» I was rapturous. I actually felt like I cheated Veritas with my voucher and nearly paid for dinner again.
So, yes. Anniversary dinner was a good gamble and should be on anyone’s shortlist for, say, dinner with the in-​laws, catching up with your old boss, or any scenario in which you’re not paying.

I came here with a Gilt City voucher, and I was very, very impressed with this restaurant (although not 5-​star impressed, and I’ll tell you why). I loved my experience here and would recommend it to others, but I don’t think I would return here myself. The clientele were very buttoned up and beyond middle-​aged. I usually enjoy restaurants that are a bit more lively.
First — the service was IMPECCABLE. So very professional yet not patronizing in the least. Even the sommelier, who, as a category of server I always have written off as stuffy and rude, was incredibly friendly and in no way spoke down to us. When I mentioned on first sip that I was getting this unpleasant feeling in my jaw from the wine, he took the time to explain that the first sip always gives off a great amount of acidity and to wait for the next sip (never knew this). Additionally, I liked that each dish was explained to us throughout the meal, but not so much so that the food melted or got cold while waiting for them to be finished!
Second — both complimentary courses (the amuse-​bouche of squash arrancini with pomegranate sauce and the trio of tiny cookies at the end) were the highlights of the meal!
Third — my appetizer and main courser were just not that great. I got the merguez and farm egg app and the striped bass main. Neither blew me away — the app seemed too salty while the fish was a bit under-​seasoned (in my very humble opinion). This is why they did not get 5 stars.
As a nice touch at the end, me and my dining partner both got a delicious apple oatmeal muffin to take home!

Since Veritas means truth, I’m about to give a heavy dose of it.
This place is SO overpriced for what it is. Quite literally the average price of wine in the «massive cube» of a wine list, is $ 1000 a bottle. So be warned. And worse still the sommelier chose not one, but two very lack-​luster magnums in my opinion.
Fortunately they do make a VERY smooth martini. Which is more reasonably priced– granted that’s not saying much.
As for the food, it was incredibly underwhelming by all accounts. All six of us found 90% of the meal to be unworthy of a Michelin Star. For example, the scallop with foie gras– two ingredients I love, just simply didn’t work together.
The market fresh pasta special was relatively bland.
The beef in transition’s tartar with quail egg was excellent, but then the sirloin was stringy and tough and the short rib purse was dry.
The Wooly Pig was a solid good. Not great. And the veal chop was a solid blah.
Fortunately they ended strong with dessert. The rhubarb pie was great and so was the salted caramel pudding. But after so many misses, there was no coming back. Especially not at those prices.
Last but not least: décor is nice, service is good and it’s remarkably easy to get a reservation. But I’m guessing that’s more of a tell tale sign, because if it was truly worth 4 stars on Unilocal,it would be harder to get into.

We had the second most expensive dinner in our lives at Veritas and half of the bill was for the wine — this place is no joke when it comes to the wine list — which is literally a cube.
We have tried this place before Sam (the current chef) started and after. Previously it was a prix fixe tasting menu, which always at the end of the dinner left us feeling overly stuffed and in need to jog home as it was so uncomfortable. We probably did it to ourselves as the bread (multiple choices) here is so good that you end up shoveling selection after selection into your face to leave no room for the food itself.
Now that the menu is more a la carte, we feel that it is less of an intimidating experience. For the appetizers, the most memorable items for us were the bone marrow and lobster combination as well as «beef in transition» which takes you from tartare to short ribs. As for the main course, the wooly pig is our preferred selection but most of the other ones we tried were also fabulous as well. For dessert, the pain perdu was particularly good but it seems to disappear and reappear on the menu.
You can get the main dining room entrees/​selections in the bar, but it also has its separate menu, which also include the duck fat fries.
The service here is fabulous and Sam (the chef) sometimes comes out to engage the diners to ask how things are going. The sommeliers understand that the average Joe (who are likely the vast majority of the clientele) will no have clue what to do with the giant book of a wine list and are very helpful in locating a perfect bottle… or two… or three.

I loved everything except one thing that was bugging me so I put off writing the review.
We ordered the tasting menu and the chef came out and asked us what we like or did not like. His menu was spot on and over the top. I have never been full before all the savory courses were served. The Chef was amazing and kept coming out to check on us. It was fabulous. The price point is high but I still give it 5 stars wonderful. I lost count of the courses but we had so many meat dishes I think it must have been 7 or 8 courses. Maybe more. Plus amuse, etc… It was all excellent.
Why I considered four stars. The sommelier was arrogant and not helpful at all. I asked for a recommendation and when I said anything under $ 100/​bottle he gave us the market list, which was fine to me, but I think he meant it as a snub. Seriously, a sommelier has never made me feel awkward before, until this guy. I was so aggravated and angry the whole time. Oh yeah, and when I did say I liked certain wine types he poo-​pooed them. Ahhh — getting mad thinking about it. I mean we dropped $ 300 on wine that dinner. Its not like I am some cheapskate.
Anyway aside from the lame sommelier everything else was great. Can you really give five stars with something like that though… I am. Hopefully when I go back he will have been fired by then. Oh and by the way, the wine was really good. He helped me select good wines, but I hated him anyway.

Since I was so busy going through their thick wine list (like a book — seriously,) I forgot to ‘check-​in’ Unilocal.:)
And I even didn’t look at their bar food menu (still busy with the wine list,) I let my friends pick whatever looks good/​interesting. When we got there, it was perfect evening and I enjoyed sitting at the half inside/​outside open air bar setting.

It was expensive bill for two and we split dessert-​over 150 $ for two. The crab salad was delicious and the duck was filing.
A complimentary palate cleanser, delicious cookies that come extra with dessert. By the way, you cannot go wrong with the molten chocolate cake.
Each table has its own waiter, its a small, lit for romantic ambiance or intimacy. Great for dates if you have the money. Well mannered and knowledgeable staff, don’t mind paying for a restaurant like this if it is accompanied with such quality as Veritas.
Only 4 stars, because they didn’t have much selection for non alcohol/​soda drinkers.

I rarely give five star reviews but our experience at Veritas last night was just outstanding.
My husband and I had just come out of a work-​related panel in the flatiron area and hadn’t eaten dinner. It was just after 9pm, Wednesday night. I was looking around for something cute and cozy where I could get a good class of wine but the hubs decided we’d try our luck at Gramercy Tavern. Fortunately for us, there was a 1 hour wait. We turned around and, on Unilocal’s recommendation, crossed the street to Veritas. We didn’t have a reservation but the hostess was incredibly sweet and had us seated at a corner table within minutes.
The first thing I noticed was how much I loved the feel of this place. Walls covered in wine bottles, lights dim but not too dim, lively jazz music at the perfect volume. Our waitress appeared promptly to ask us about water. As I pulled up the menu, I was a little put off by the prices and the brevity. Hmm, maybe we’ll split three apps and a mains? When she came back to tell us about the specials, our decision was crystal clear. We ordered the soft shell crabs special, a crab salad, scallops and a vegetable lasagne for our mains. We told her we were in a bit of a rush and could we have everything at the same time?
I pulled out my phone to check in on Foursquare and read some tips and was floored when I discovered that this was a Michelin star restaurant. No wonder it was pricey! Excited, we ordered cocktails (Veritas fizz and the OId Dandy). Again, they arrived promptly. We also picked some yummy homemade breads from the bread platter, which we happily ate with unsalted butter and Hawaiian black salt.
A waiter appeared and served us amuse bouche — gazpacho with pea foam. It was a delicious start. The rest of our food (all of it) came out within 10 minutes. I don’t know how they did it but they did. Everything was delectable. The lasagna special was one of the most delicious things I have ever eaten and not what you would expect from a lasagna. The crab salad was heavenly and everything was so beautiful presented. Our waitress was one of the best things about the meal — service was so unassuming and friendly with just the perfect level of attention and precision. For dessert, we ordered the caramel mousse and the rhubarb tarte. The former was the only thing that disappointed. It was a little too sweet and dense for my liking but the rhubarb was again, unbeatable. We also ordered a dessert wine and were treated to some petit fours and some take-​home muffins.
I don’t say this lightly, but Veritas may be one of my new favorite restaurants in NYC. Where else in the world could you wander into a Michelin star restaurant with no reservation, be treated so well and eat 6 perfect dishes in under an hour and a half? Love NYC.

Outstanding spot for an after work glass of wine in Flatiron. Extremely knowledgeable bar staff to advise on new things to try once they understand your flavor profile. I will likely add another star if I ever eat here.
Warm and romantic ambiance with a small dining room tucked into the back of the space. Quiet and intimate bar area.
Good for a quiet date, glass of vino before heading home weeknight.

I haven’t been a martini gal in a long, long while, but all that changed at Veritas. The girls and I stopped in here on a Thursday, trying to find a not-​too-​loud place to enjoy a drink while sitting down (harder than you would think). The nice people at Veritas allowed us to sit at the wide table by the front, even for just a drink. I think they noticed our thirst and took pity. Also, we’re pretty.
Even though it’s a wine place (and the wine menu is incredibly extensive) we knocked all decorum and taste out the window and went for the cocktails. The girls were in a martini mood and so I was too by osmosis. And let me tell you, that Hendrick’s martini was the best I have ever had. Bracingly cold, just the right hint of vermouth, and three excellent olives (dare I say, they may have even been castelvetranos?). It was perfection. It was $ 17 perfection, but worth every penny.
A glance at the food menu told us we would be able to afford to eat there in 20 years or maybe when that IRA kicks in or my sugar-​daddy comes to town, so we stuck with drinks. But they were damn good drinks.

Ok, so I may have to go back again, but considering the incredible reputation (former Michelin restaurant) I left a little underwhelmed.
We went last September with some work colleagues and were jazzed for a great meal. Don’t get me wrong, the food was good — it just seemed to be slightly off/​below being really good!
I have to say, the wine was excellent and reasonably priced. For dinner we started with the bone marrow, crab and a spin salad — all of them fine
For dinner, the group had the veal chops, pork and duck (I had the duck). Once again, the food was good, but I left wanting more
For dessert, we had the chocolate and honey, apple confit, ice cram and cheese plate — I have to say that we enjoyed them all
I would like to give the, van other shot, but this is a pricey place and I am not sure if it is worth the time/​effort and dough — I will watch the reviews and see if they merit another shot

Definitely a solid choice for a nice dinner out, better than the majority of others in its range that I’ve tried. Their wine list is a bible (…and I would pray to it), that really stands out. Service is polite and efficient. Clientele is upper crust locals, not tourists trying to spend money.
That, and the best foie gras I’ve ever had, a good prelude to an excellent seafood dinner (their chef makes some very unique sauces) makes this a good call for a nice night out with a date, or a few of your food-​loving friends. Remember to make a reservation.

What is amazing about this restaurant is truly great. The chef is skilled and engaging. The food wonderful. And of course the wine selection over the top.
I highly recommend the tasting menu the highlights of which were terrific. Nantucket scallops (a delicacy) –fois gris – a delicious pan seared veal chop followed by a petit filet – and a delectable sampling of fine desserts. There is more and the chef custom deigns dinner based on his ingredients of the day.
Wines range in bottle price from modest to very high in a wine collection that may rival some of the best in the country. There are sommeliers to assist but be aware of your price point or you will be up sold. Our table was offered selections in the $ 300-​$ 400 per bottle range without ever being asked if we wanted to stay in a particular price range. The $ 95 bottle of burgundy (which I sampled by the glass earlier) was quite wonderful. Unfortunately we selected that on our own and after turning down the Sommelier’s higher priced options, he did not return to our table except to pour the last of our self chosen selection, never asking if we enjoyed what we had chosen.
Where this restaurant really mis-​steps however is on service which is inconsistent and poor. When our tasting selections were served, sometimes our server was available to tell us what was prepared and sometimes we waited several minutes until he or another server recognized we were sitting unattended to.
When we would finish a course either our server or in one case the restaurant hostess would clear our plates. There was no order to serve and clear leaving us sitting and waiting for our table to be bussed, anywhere from a couple of minutes to a much more, and unexplained length of time.
I had to request water refills multiple times and the same goes for the bread offerings. There are all things that a four star level restaurant should have down to a science. This restaurant was totally ad hoc in how we were served, checked on and otherwise taken care of during the course of this nearly three hour meal.
This has all the makings of a great restaurant. That being said great restaurants offer memorable, pleasant and constant service, something Veritas has failed to accomplish and in a most blatant and obvious way.
Although I would recommend this Gramercy treat for its wonderful food and wine – I left feeling deflated for my frustration over the service issues.
A LA SCOTT gives this one two and a half stars hoping that it learns its way and reaches its potential. If not-​the tough NY restaurant crowd will see its way to something comparable with service that is as memorable as the food and wine. This is what makes the dining experience truly complete and makes the difference between a mediocre and great dining adventure.

Sorry, but I was disappointed. It wasn’t the food but the restaurant policy. I ate at the bar and was shocked to learn that despite paying the same price for food as in the dining room, I would not receive an amuse bouche or petite fours. That is unacceptable. I have never seen that in another restaurant that serves the same food at the bar. The server did serve me the petite fours when I protested but that is ridiculous at these prices. This is a fine dining establishment and solo diners should not be treated like second class citizens. Shame on Veritas.
That said, the food was delicious. The bread sticks at the bar were addictive. The bread itself was just okay and should have been warmed.
The maple brine pig was unusual, sweet without being cloying and moist. It was a home run. The portion was rather large without being too big.
The service was terrific. My issue with the restaurant is it’s policy. It really turned me off. I take strong issue with restaurants that treat solo diners like lepers.

A girlfriend of mine and I were long over due for a catch up, so she suggested this place. What I absolutely love about it is that it is not one of those sceney, yell over everyone else and the pumping music, so your friend can hear you kind of places. It has a very quiet, intimate setting. i.e. — perfect for a date, or catching up with a friend. It has a wonderful wine selection, and great food options as well (american contemporary fare).
The service, the food, the ambiance, was all spectacular, and I don’t know why I haven’t come here sooner!
I am def keeping this as one of my go-​to places!

Came back again on a busy Wednesday night and the food was consistently amazing just as I remembered. The Lobster + Bone marrow have me begging for more, the pairing with a bit of acidic side was perfect. Foie gras with the sweet and sour cherry chutney was great as well. I really liked the farm egg + tomato lamb sausage stew. It was very rich and the kind of heartiness I really craved. Reminded me of a really good mussel soup where you just want to dip everything in it. I ordered three appetizers instead of entrée and was plenty full by the end. Others have ordered the chicken and the lamb and were very pleased with those entrees. This place is definitely one of those consistently good enjoyable restaurants I will revisit again and again.
The bread tray was amazing with home made biscuits that were tdf.
I need not to rave about their wine list as many have know their extensive amazing selection.
Place is a bit small and crammed and it can get a little loud. big group will probably be better sitting in the front of the restaurant so will need to reserve early. not great for kids.

Holy Moley, I feel like I just left a food porn orgy.
I read some of the past reviews and guess what? «I» am the older crowd coming to Veritas. Mid forties, devilishly handsome and know when to search out a Michelin 1 star restaurant at just the right time with no reservation.
I’m going to break it down for you, I’m going to start with my favorite thing in the entire world, dessert.
They have a full time pastry chef and her job is to make award winning desserts. When I read that, I want to take her to my house in Long Island and have her chained up like in the movie Misery. Emily Wallendjack is a true and passionate talent. She made this mind numbing dessert. French Toast sticks with homemade rum raisin ice cream? I want this every day of my life!
I ordered, actually I don’t remember what I ordered because I was drinking and reeling over the starter, a steak for two? Dry aged beef, it was simply outstanding.
I started with a Scallop with crispy parsnip shaving. It had a vanilla base that was sooo good, I wanted to lick the plate clean.
Now, I spoke about the food porn. Lets talk about wine.
Say the Sheik of I dunno, some Sheik of the middle east flies into NYC and wants a 25K bottle of wine. He’s going to Veritas. Do you remember that movie «I Am Legend»? A guy hides from NYC zombies at night? Well, If I survive the fallout, I’ll be in the basement of Veritas (along with Emily baking cookies)
I love messing with wine guys. Wine is such a varied item, its not like your going to the store and buying a bottle of Pepsi. Wines change from year to year, regions, weather and different blends, its a forever evolving product.
Rubén Sanz Ramiro is the Head Sommelier at Verias. Its not a simple job. Veritas is known for their wines and he is in charge of the entire operation.
Now, I know I’m in a Wine restaurant. Guess what I start with? Yup, Beer. I’m the rube that orders rack of lamb at Daniel and says «scuse me, do you have any mint jelly?»
They don’t have a large selection, maybe one or two beers but they have them!
So, Mr. Sanz Ramiro comes over and offers me a Napa wine. Bold, but not too bold, with a hint of spice. Outstanding selection. Then, for dessert I ask for a nice Gewürztraminer. He says no, we don’t have in stock but I have something similar from Italy. Holy moley, spot on.
Now, i can go on and on about Veritas. The father of the bride, the guy who is making it all happen is Sam Hazen. Chef Hazen was at Tao and created a great dish there, Vietnamese lettuce wraps, he’s a NYC culinary icon.
So I ate, I saw and I conquered a Michelin restaurant with no reservation on a Friday night. Come here to have a glass of wine at the bar, its something you need to experience.

Occasion: Fiancé’s grad school celebration (back in May)
You know how you worry about wasting $$$ on fancy places and leaving disappointed. Well, this is place works to eliminate all of that.
I fell in love with my glass of wine! Never thought I would say that. Can I just say their wine list is fantastic, not to mention extensive.
Table of 7. So I had the chance to sample many dishes. And everyone was pretty much happy. Loved the Seared scallop. Beef in transition remains my favorite dish. The pork belly was also a great hit. I can no longer remember what I had for dessert but remember that it was great.
Sophisticated atmosphere. Service was ridiculously attentive.
Overall, a great place for a celebration

Where’s the prix fixe! Alas, a changed décor somehow equates to a changed menu, and not in a good way.
I ordered the following and each were pleasant but nothing outstanding except the dessert which was the best part of the entire night:
Lobster and bone marrow — The lobster was good (when is it not good?) and the bone marrow that sat on the other side of the dish was OK — there was no theme or sauce tying the two together which was fine but I was just expecting a little bit more from a Michelin star recipient.
Veal — ok dish — it came with one ravioli. I would have definitely preferred a whole dish of ravioli than a whole dish of veal.
Lamb — good. not exceptional but definitely better than the veal.
*** Strawberry tart deconstructed into its simple elements — a crust in the shape of a cookie, topped with a layer of the gooey tart filling, and finally strategically-​placed sliced strawberries on top. Best dish of the night. Quite outstanding actually.
Dark and stormy — the menu said toffee pudding and instead I received gingerbread so needless to say I was a bit disappointed.
The petit four was really a petit three with three options: mille feuille (yuck), chocolate, and a mini macaron. At least one of the options was good.

I came for the wine bar only so this isn’t a review of the food itself. I did have a cheese plate though, which I thoroughly enjoyed — I had three types of delicious cheese served with honeycomb, warm nut bread, and giant plump raisins.
What I like about Veritas now is the choices they give you on the wine list. You certainly get a choice of unique wines by the glass which are of good quality. You can choose a luscious, big, Priorat or the unique sherry-​like vin jaune from the Jura region of France, which are not easily found by the glass. There are some expensive wine-​by-​the-​glass choices which I actually don’t mind too much because they’re exceptionally good quality wines that are very expensive by the bottle anyway and I wouldn’t get to try these wines otherwise.
This may be a personal gripe but one annoyance was how our server «corrected» my pronunciation of «vin jaune» with a mispronunciation («veen jwahn»). Having lived and worked in France for almost two years, I think I know how to say a French word. I have no problem with mispronunciations as long as people don’t try to correct me when they don’t know what they’re saying.

Oh Michelin guide, you never steer me wrong.
We ordered the 5 course tasting menu and Chef Pugin was gracious enough to let me swap out the halibut course and instead get the lamb dish from the 3-​course prix fixe menu. I love an artist that also has business sense!
The foie gras terrine with sangria gelee was incredibly rich. A great way to start the meal. All the main courses (scallop, lamb, wagyu) were perfectly prepared and uniquely seasoned so that they were differentiated from other restaurants with similar items. Then there was a dessert amuse, not something you see at too many places, and finally the pistachio macaroon with lemon curd and pistachio ice cream was the perfect ending. Especially since I love all things pistachio! (if you like this, make sure to try the pistachio martini at Café Mogador)

Das Veritas in New York City ist ein einzigartiges Restaurant und eine absolute Empfehlung!
Frei nach «In Vino Veritas» verbirgt sich ein kleines, aber feines Restaurant mit einer außergewöhnlichen Weinsammlung — ich glaube, Sammlung ist das richtige Wort. Während sich die Speisekarte geradezu minimalistisch darstellt, eine Letter Page mit einem Prix Fixe Menu und der Auswahl von hervorragenden Speisen, bekommt der Gast eine «Bibel» als Weinkarte. Hier ist die Wahl äußerst schwierig. Hier findet man Weine, die teilweise einzigartig sind und entsprechend kosten: mehrere Tausend US-​$ — ein Wein kostete über US-​$ 25.000 — sind keine Seltenheit. Diese kann selbst der Sommelier nur vom Hörensagen beschreiben… Nun gut, diese eine Flasche muss man ja nicht unbedingt aus dem Weinkeller entfernen. Park B. Smith hat immerhin 192.000 Flaschen in seinem Weinkeller.
Vor meinem ersten Besuch hatte ich die Wahl, die Rechnung für Speisen oder Getränke zu übernehmen. Meine Brieftasche war dankbar für meine vorausahnende Entscheidung, die Rechnung für die Speisen zu übernehmen. Immerhin liegt zur Zeit der Preis für ein Six Course Menue bei US-​$ 155 (pro Person versteht sich). Aber dafür erhält man eine außergewöhnliche Qualität…
Die Küche fokussiert auf den Südwesten Frankreichs, wo der Chefkoch aufgewachsen ist und der für Schwarze Trüffel, Foie Gras, und andere Spezialitäten bekannt ist.
Das Veritas steht für «Fine wine, exquisite food, elegant, understated ambience, superior, unpretentious service and devotion to every detail». Eine erinnerungswürdige Erfahrung ist dem Besucher sicher!
In vino veritas.