I wanted to use my Chase dining points on this but it was just ok. I feel like nothing was really filling or amazing. We got the foie gras, Spanish mackerel, beef tartare, oysters and bread. The foie grad and beef tartare already came with bread and the waitress didn't tell us. So a majority of the meal was bread. We had bread 3x. And it was expensive for a non filling meal. Also I just don't think the foie gras was my thing. I can't get over the texture. Taste wise there was no strong taste in anything outside of the olives. Also our table was the size of a night stand. There were other tables that were bigger. The older ladies next to us was seated at a 4 person table just for them. read more

Estela - New American Near Me - New York, New York

Stella food and impeccable service. Location: Up a flight of stairs with a tricky door. Entrance is small, so you may have to wait outdoors when busy. Ambience: Casual bistro vibe. Long bar spans the narrow entrance and in main dining room, tables are close together. Hip music overhead adds to lively vibe. Lots of dark wood and dim lighting. Food: Tapas style food. Inventive and bursting with flavors. We enjoyed every bite. Don't skip desserts, perfect balance of refreshing sweetness. Loved the food and will definitely be back. Wine: sommelier was excellent and an interesting wine list. Our first time enjoying Corisan wine, it was excellent. Will definitely be back. Loved everything. read more

New American/small plates restaurant with 1 Michelin star We made a res on open table and love that it's included in the CSR benefit, so don't forget to use it! We got 5 small plates to share (2 were super tiny) and I thought it was a good amount of food, but my husband was a little hungry after - Foie gras and uni: the custard is light, but rich with the foie gras and the uni actually cuts it quite nicely. It's a super small dish, but I don't think I'd be able to eat one by myself. It's better to share - Oysters: $6/piece, so we only got 2 to try. Really good ! the yuzu mignonette is very light and citrusy - Beef tartare: I liked how bright it tasted with the citrus. I actually liked eating it on its own better than with the bread, which was a little too thick for how light the beef was - Endive salad: my favorite dish! It looks very unimpressive when you first get it because it's just a plate of endive leaves, but underneath is a warm, cheesy, nutty mix that you scoop onto the fresh leaves. Loved all the textures and flavors - Arroz negro: I was pleasantly surprised with this one because I'm usually not the biggest fan of squid ink, but the rice was cooked perfectly al dente with some crispy parts to it, and the romesco sauce in the middle was a yummy surprise it's a nice date night spot, but some of the dishes like the endive salad was actually a little too much for 2 people, so I think it's a restaurant that would be better for a group of 4 so you can try a lot of plates and not get tired of anything My only complaint was the booth side of the table was way too high! It was a little uncomfortable because I felt like I was hunching over the whole time read more

Solid 4 stars for Estela. Estela has been a 1 Michelin star restaurant for so long that specializes in European-leaning small plates. We had a reservation and were seated quickly. I didn't like how all of the tables were so close together. The table next to us had to move their table for me to squeeze into the booth. For food, we went with the beef tartare with elderberries and sunchokes (so delicious), ricotta dumplings (soooooo yum but very heavy), and the toro with celeriac and black truffle (better than I expected as the toro was insanely buttery). For dessert, we went with the chocolate cake which was not too sweet or heavy. Service was ok, worse than I expected for a Michelin restaurant. Our waiter gave us some recs but didn't see very happy to be there. read more

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I had a reservation and solo dined at the bar. The bartender was friendly and very knowledgeable of the menu. Service was prompt. The atmosphere was on the noisy side but the ambiance is intimate and dark. Endive salad: 7.5/10. I enjoyed this--it's encouraged to eat with your hands to use the leaf to scoop up the filling in the middle. Great textures and flavors Ricotta dumplings: 8/10. The softest things I've ever put in my mouth. The texture is like gnocchi but even softer. I enjoyed the broth it came in, it was a comforting bite in the cold weather. Duck: 5/10 I found it to be very bland and the cut of meat was incredibly fatty. The presentation is pretty boring. Chocolate cake: 6/10 nice and fudgy. I do enjoy sea salt on my desserts, however I found this a tad too salty. I'm glad I dined here however I'm not sure I'll be running back anytime soon. Nothing mind blowing, but a nice meal nonetheless. read more

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I liked, but did not love the experience at Estela. The staff was very friendly and overall I thought the service was of high caliber. What missed for me was what happens behind the kitchen doors. Overall I thought the food has some elements I enjoyed, but was overall quite salty which overpowered some of the unique nuanced flavors described on the menu. The portion sizes were small (to be expected to some degree at these sort of restaurants) but for the price tag on some of the dishes the taste/quality did not make up for the small portion sizes. Additionally, the plating did not meet the consistency standards I expect from a Michelin star restaurant. The arroz dish looked divine, the mackerel looked as if the chef carelessly threw it on the plate in a rush. Finally, the pacing of the dinner threw off the entire experience. Our first two dishes came out nicely spaced, however our third dish came out 90 seconds after our second while we just were digging in and the final dish came out over 30 minutes after the third. I think there are elements here for a nice albeit pricey dinner, but overall I didn't find that we received a Michelin star worthy experience. read more

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Not sure if it was the dishes we ordered but Estela fell short of my expectations, especially for a Michelin-starred restaurant. Started off with the scallops which were probably my favorite dish this meal. I liked the combination of flavors and textures. The scallops were pretty fresh. The date provided sweetness that complemented the fragrant butter and savory flavors. It's chewy texture contrasted with the scallop and the hazelnut, which offered a lingering nutty taste. The endive salad featured very fresh and crunchy leaves that held up the walnuts, anchovies, and cheese. The multitude of textures was fun and I liked the olive oil drizzle. The omelete was disappointing. The egg component wasnt as tender as I had hoped, but more importantly it was too salty (even for someone who likes salty dishes). The truffle flavors did not come through sadly. The ricotta dumplings only had a faint ricotta taste and were kinda gritty. The sauce didn't have much mushroom or other flavors sadly. For the scallops and endive, I might have given a 4, but the service dropped it down to a 3. Our server was cold, off-putting, and interrupted us at odd times, even when we said we needed a minute. While the black coffee itself was good, the cup was way too thin to hold a hot beverage, which made it logistically challenging to enjoy our meal from the get go. I really wanted to like Estela and wish I had a better experience. read more

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Estela really blew me away. Despite having a star, I wasn't sure how exciting it would be given it had been around for so long and they have a number of dishes that have never left the menu in 10+ years. But i was so wrong. The beef tartare and enliven salad was the most amazing combo to start and the ricotta dumplings are also a must order. You can skip the one note arrow negro. Duck was good for a main, but portion here was tiny for the price. Regardless, I would come back just for that salad and tartare again! read more

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I came to Estela and dined alone for the first time at the bar. The seating was interesting as there was a plant kind of in my face. The server behind the bar was super nice. I ordered the endive salad, the ricotta dumplings, and the duck. I was expecting the salad to be light, but it was very rich, with cheese and nuts. The ricotta dumplings were also very thick. The piece of duck contained a lot of fat, but the portion was a lot bigger than the photos made it seem overall everything was very rich. I was only able to finish half of each dish. Who aside the ambience was really nice and I enjoyed the solo meal. read more

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All the plates we ordered at this wine bar were super fresh and delicious, and the ambiance was super cozy yet intimate. They are also super generous with the wine pours here. The only callout is the service is EXTREMELY slow -- they pretty much serve you one dish at a time, and won't serve the next one until the previous plate is finished, so we ended up dining for a lot longer than we wanted to - Scallops (5/5): love these! These were so fresh and I loved the fresh peas on top - Beef tartare (5/5): also was pleasantly surprised with these. Came with delicious sourdough and the combo of the tartare with the pieces of sunchoke was absolutely divine - Endive (4/5): endive is not my favorite, but I loved the toppings underneath! - Celery salad (4/5): really refreshing, but really expensive for what it is - Fried arroz negro (5/5): probably my favorite dish of the night. The texture of the rice was almost a bit al dente and the flavor was spot on, and also had lots of textures from the bits of seafood inside. - Ricotta dumplings (3.5/5): maybe my least favorite dish. I loved the mushroom sauce, but the ricotta dumplings were a bit one dimensional in flavor and texture Good spot for a date night, but beware of the slow service! read more

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We had a 1pm reservation but we arrived the restaurant 30 mins earlier , and the host led us to our seat right away without any problems. The restaurant is small as most NYC restaurant are , but the interior is pretty and the atmosphere is very intimate and calm, which I really like. Our table is very close to the next table diner but this doesn't bother me. The menu is small and we were informed by our waiter that the portion is small so we should order several dishes to share and we did. The star of the day is Endive salad. I was a bit skeptical when it was served as it looks nothing like the salad I had in the past but it's really really good. The rest of dishes we ordered are also good, oysters are very fresh , the lobster and shrimp sandwich is good,and chocolate cake is delicious, I like everyone we ordered today. I do think it is pricey, but the quality of the food and the service do justify the price tag. read more

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This is a super cute Michelin star restaurant tucked away on a street- it is easy to miss, but that's the way it seems to be with some of the best restaurants out there! The service was great- we had a very friendly waiter. The food was well portioned are was tapas-style. The space is well designed- we did not feel like we were overcrowded even though we went over lunch! Winds were delicious and perfect with the meal. read more

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We have been going to this iconic small plate bistro for years! The service is excellent. The host was kind enough to sit me at my table. Few minutes early. The vibe is energetic and fun. Most of the menu is unchanged and all the best dishes are still there: Not to be missed: Cocktails Wine list Steak Tartar - beyond amazing Bread and French butter Endive salad - family favorite Black squid ink risotto with Romesco Then we had sweet breads - just ok But the sad news was a very disappointing fois gras that arrived wrapped in slightly charred tough green leaves (chard?) - the fois was soupy and poorly seasoned. In the past - a while back we had awesome fois gras - a completely different abd much more delicious preparation - combining sweet, crunchy, etc to offset the richness a bit of tart.. The chocolate dessert was brilliant Estela is not an inexpensive restaurant given the small to-be-shared- portions. So everything should be excellent !! We will be back ! read more

Came in on solo reservation, was seated at bar in a corner with a huge plant right next to me with branches/leaves extending over food whenever I bent head. Seemed like a recurrent issue from seeing some videos. Staff was helpful in recommending drinks and dishes. Went with the beef tartare and mackerel/onion/caviar. The tartare didn't have much flavor to me. The mackerel was incredibly salty to me and the caviar only added to that. Bread was fine. Pleasant ambiance at least chatting with other diners and staff. Still would definitely return and think table seating is better and try other dishes, probably just off experience. read more

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Me and my dad came here for a nice dinner a few weeks ago and he had made a reservation in advance. We got there a little early to see if they could seat us early, but they were all booked (even the bar seats). Unfortunately, they don't have anywhere you can wait in the restaurant, so we ended up going to a bar down the street while we waited for our reservation time. Once we made it back in time for our reservation, it was smooth sailing. The restaurant is quite small with limited tables and only a few seats at the bar, and therefore very intimate. We ordered the sourdough with butter, the bay scallops, the celery salad, the crab and the ricotta dumplings. Everything was really good with great flavors. For me, the standouts were the bread (it was just so good), the salad, and the scallops. The dumplings weren't bad, but I felt they were a bit too heavy. For cocktails, I ordered the La Chilanga, which was delicious and my dad ordered a glass of red wine, which he really enjoyed. Overall, I would definitely come back here again! read more

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Our table reservation for 4 was at 12.15pm on a Saturday afternoon. We were seated promptly. When you step into Estela, you want to love it. The atmosphere is calm, sensual and tranquil. The transparent glass coffee pot that accompanied the porcelain thin, handle-free cups and saucers already distinguished the restaurant from majority of its peers for me. Milk was served in a matching glass jar. As if to say, 'welcome, we want you all to stay for as long as you like and please make yourselves at home'. Emily is attentive and delightful as our server. Her smile alone packs personality. By 2.30pm, we have selected and devoured the shrimp sandwich, ricotta dumplings, Belgian endive, cured pork belly, oysters, scallops and peppers selected from Estela's lunch menu. Aesthetics, execution, and flavor. We enjoyed every dish immensely. Culinary flair paired smoothly and successfully with seasonal freshness. Estela definitely knows how to woo its guests back with finesse. The plating appeals and comforts, teasing one to imagine how potentially capable Estela is of stunning you if you come back for dinner on the same day. Appreciated the initiative on the part of the staff to arrange change of plates, refill our glasses of water and requested if we'd like to stay for dessert: a. Panna cotta, vinegar, and honey b. Chocolate cake with sesame ganache and cream c. Cherry sorbet with olive oil and black pepper We were too full but it's got a dessert selection that beckons one to return for the sole purpose of placating one's sweet tooth over afternoon coffee and/or tea. That's the visit I have to make with my daughter. Thank you and to be continued, Estela read more

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The food was great, as it should be for a Michelin Star restaurant, however it wasn't as memorable as I had hoped it to be. I probably wouldn't come back with all the other Mich star restaurants in NYC, but still a good time nonetheless. read more

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I've been to Estela so many times over the years and every time I go back I am surprised that it has maintained the high quality of food and drink since I remember it opening a decade or so ago. The space is small and cute on Houston. It has the vibes of a quintessential cute neighborhood New York restaurant. Something you would have wanted to go into on a first date, or with your significant other of 20 years. Estela really hits the occasion for anything intimate and nice - and the space is quite intimate, not large at all. The service matches the intimacy with honest, kind, and interactive servers. This is what I wish of more servers, however many fancy places have felt much more formal and distant in their service, thankfully Estela does not do this. We spoke to the bartender and requested bespoke drinks, they were all fantastic. We had a great conversation with the waitress and she made some great suggestions on the menu, again all fantastic. I had many of my favorites, including the ricotta gnudi with mushrooms and black rice (both of which you should get), but really enjoyed the scallops that come served so beautifully and the duck, which was new to the menu and the one thing I hadn't tried yet. It was fantastic! I'll keep coming back to Estela, it's such a treat. I don't come more than once a year because there's so much dining to do in NYC - but I do think Estela is a standard for NYC small plates and if you haven't been you probably should come. read more

Estela - Duck - truly specatcular - New American Near Me - New York, New York

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Went to Estela last minute as a walk in just to experience it and didn't have to wait on a Sunday which was nice. The best dish of the ones I tried was the lobster and wood ear mushrooms. Lobster was perfectly cooked, the mushrooms had tons of texture and the sauce/broth was smooth and not too salty. The foie gras was different, but I didn't get a photo of it since it was wrapped in grape leaves. It came in a soup and the leaves had to be unwrapped or cut, but I enjoyed it for a different approach than the typical pan sear. I'm not sure I'd go back for dinner, but possibly to try their desserts even though I think the dishes were executed well overall, even though they were relatively small in terms of portion. read more

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We had a booking for two, and were seated in the corner, next to a wall, isolated from the rest of the restaurant. We had a fantastic view of the backsides of all the bar seated patrons and the waiting area. Table was cramped, and we enjoyed the eventful scenery of customers being ushered in and out all night in the narrow walkway to the waiting area. Not a mention about my wife's birthday. Food is expensive and above average. Left a 15% tip because we didn't want to punish the serving staff. This is not their fault. Estela needs to do better for their staff and customers. Dumbfounded that this establishment has a Michelin star. read more

The food is as amazing as it was on my first visit! There is a reason you keep going back to Estela. The food is creative and delicious, the vibe is so upbeat and the service is perfect. The cocktails and the wine list are terrific as well. read more

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This spot had been on my list for a while, and it definitely lived up to the hype! We came on a Thursday night for a 9 PM seating, but due to subway delays, we arrived 45 minutes late. Thankfully, the staff was kind enough to seat us anyway. The service was lovely throughout, and I appreciated how the dishes were coursed out at a comfortable pace and we never felt rushed. I especially enjoyed the arroz negro with squid -- it was incredibly flavorful. The mackerel crudo was another highlight, topped with thinly sliced mushrooms that added a nice texture and depth. And the endive dish was such a surprise! I don't think I've had it prepared this way before -- the bottom layer had anchovy and walnuts, and you scoop a bit of everything together for the perfect bite. Ambiance is dimmed and it's quite lively. I wouldn't really hear what my boyfriend is saying but it was fine. Overall it was a good time :) read more

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Absolutely amazing. From the minute you walk in you'd feel the welcoming space and team, its cozy and sexy. We were quickly seated and our server was great. I would suggest everything we ordered so good. The rice and salad were insaneeee!! A must!! Love how they play with textures. Like kindly obsessed. Cannot wait to go back!! read more

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All the dishes we ordered were extraordinary! - endive salad: 100/10 (I loved the combination of the crispy endive with the salty, vinegary, and crunchy sauce. I can eat this salad everyday) - ricotta dumplings: 10/10 (loved the texture of the super thin mushroom. The ricotta dumplings were great!) - crab omelette: 10/10 (the omelette was super silky smooth. The pickled greens on top really helped balance out the richness of the whole dish.) Service was good, ambiance was very cozy chic. Be wary though that the seats are super small! read more

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More of a 3.5 but not a 4, not really understanding how this has a star. I'd maybe come back for a glass of wine and a snack but not a full meal. I loved the black rice octopus dish but everything else was totally forgettable. The bartender wasn't very helpful, so that really the experience. read more

The spot: The restaurant is on the smaller side. As a party of two, we were seated in a cozy little nook in the back of the restaurant. Larger groups were seated in the narrow space between us and the bar seating at the front. The drinks: The cocktail program here is great and perhaps even rivals the food. I tried the Halo Spritz, an elevated spritz comprising Tximista Blanco, Sirene Canto Amaro, lemon, salted lime, and cava, and the Tomato Never Dies (cute), a martini riff that reminds one of a caprese in beverage form. I think the spritz, with its lively Spanish vermouth, citrus notes, and depth of flavor, was actually my favorite, but the martini was so refreshing and had really strong basil notes. The only thing that would've made this better would've been a mozzarella and tomato skewer garnish. The food: If you're a sourdough lover, definitely start your meal with the delicious bread. It's a filling option and only $5 and the butter is heavenly. As we were first-timers at Estela, we largely stuck with their classic dishes, including the endive salad, fried arroz negro, and ricotta dumplings. We got one rotating dish, the Crab (celeriac and dulse) which was fantastic in its simplicity. I mostly just tasted sweet, fresh crab and butter, and honestly that was perfect. I only wished that the dish was a bit larger. The endive salad was presented as a little foraging adventure, with the vinegar-dressed endives on top of a bed of ubriaco rosso (cheese), walnuts, and anchovies. It was great and not a light salad, but pricey at $28. Ricotta dumplings were also very good; the best part was the umami-bomb mushroom broth. This was a hearty dish. The fried arroz negro, served with squid and romesco*, was a delightful surprise for us. We don't always automatically go for dishes dressed in squid ink, but this was very good. I loved the crispy element to the rice, seafood-flecked bites, and the lively but delicate savory sauce that pulled it all together. Finally, we saved a bit of room for dessert and tried the panna cotta. Good but not my favorite version, and I wouldn't probably try a different sweet to end our meal next time. read more

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Honestly can't say enough good things about Estela. I've yet to have a bad meal or bad dish here. I dined here 2 days ago and decided to only eat pescatarian friendly dishes. Usually I go all in on meat dishes. I ended up being just as happy. The oyster presentation was good (but those are hard to screw up). The tuna tartar was extremely tasty. The black rice with crab has a wonderful flavor. The ricotta dumplings were light and mouth watering. What I wasn't expecting was how good the desert was. I ordered the pana cotta. It had honey, sea salt, and perhaps vinegar. The flavors worked exceptionally well with the super creamy pana cotta. If you can't tell, I'm officially a fanboy for Estela. I probably should eat at some other restaurants when I'm in Ny, but it's hard not to come to this little charming spot when I stay in the lower east side. read more

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Great spot! Elevated but causal. It was a bit loud, so maybe not the best place for deep conversation, but the food was tasty and creative. Staff were friendly although not super attentive, it seemed like a busy evening though. read more

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We had a wonderful dinner. Oysters, endive, duck kopka, pressed duck, arroz negra. Roxanne made it a wonerful and fun evening, suggesting wine pairings with an assist from a great Som. R: best of luck with your wine journey. You will be a great master som! Oh and dessert - choc cake. Lovely! read more

The food and service easily explains the Michelin Star rating. We shared 7 dishes. We had the ricotta dumplings, the black ink fried rice, scallops, wagyu beef, oysters, mackerel and endive salad. All are meant to be sharing dishes. As always, we skip desert. Incredible experience. They bring the food out in order of light to heavy...meaning the oysters are first and the wagyu is last. Our server was spot on. A bit on the pricey side, but definitely worth the price. read more

Estela - Raw Scallops - New American Near Me - New York, New York

pretty average food but it was quite salty. drank so much water. i liked the cripsy things in the squid risotto, thought the classic ricotta dumplings were just okay. i liked the beef tartar though, refreshing and reminded me korean beef tartar. ambiance was good but the seating was weird the benches on the wall were so high compared to table and chairs across table. very attentive servers read more

Food was unique and so flavorful with unexpected combinations. The waitress guided us well! Highly recommended the beautiful Bay Scallops with date and hazelnut! The chocolate cake was also A standout! read more

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Every star in this review is for their food. We took our server's recommendation and shared 4-6 plates, ranked below for balance of flavor and textured mouthfeels. Fried arroz negro with squid and romesco - an extremely satisfying bite with multiple forms of crunch coming from the rice and the nuts of the romesco. Grilled Lobster with woodear mushrooms and grapes - the smokiness of the lobster really permeated each chewy ear. I'm not a fan of lobster at all, but I could eat this preparation any day! Cured trout with bergamot and dashi - the little beads provided much appreciated bursts of brine. Marinated olives - the twist of grapefruit rind was not only a great palate cleanser, but an excellent pregame choice with drinks. Sourdough miche with butter - the rustic crust is what bread cravings are made of. Kudos to the bartenders for their Halo Spritz cocktail - it was unbelievably refreshing despite its complexity. Now for the ambiance. While our corner table felt "cozy" at first tucked away from the main dining room, it became "the spot" for people to wait for the rest of their party to arrive. We soon ran out of room to be able to get up or lift a drink without elbowing someone accidentally. That was our cue to get the check and go. Alas, even a Michelin star worthy meal can't stop NYC from doing what it does on a Friday night. read more

Estela - Grilled lobster with woodears and grapes - New American Near Me - New York, New York

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10/10 would go again, if only reservations were easier! Makes perfect sense why they aren't though. I didn't even know I liked endives... everything about the visit was great. Service was attentive, ambiance was cute/dimly lit (popular date night it seems), and everything we ate was delicious. My favorites were the scallops, endive salad and the panna cotta. The cured salmon was good and so was the pork, but not as memorable as the other dishes in my opinion. read more

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I don't have pics of everything I ate because we were too busy enjoying the food and conversation at the table. Service here is always A1. They are attentive w/o being annoying. The restaurant is cozy, it doesn't feel cramped. This was my second time here. What I love about the food at Estela is how playful every dish is. Every plate was cleaned, no crumbs. My friend even took the ricotta dumpling broth from bowl to her face, it was so good. Things I highly recommend are the beef tartar, the Endive granola, the arroz and ricotta dumpling! We also did the cheese board and chocolate cake . Tip: I always recommend making a reservation. They be booked and busy. read more

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10 out of 10. The food, service, and ambiance were all spot on. Everything pictured below was amazing. We also had, not pictured, the Ricotta dumplings with mushrooms and pecorino Sardo which were one of my favorites. The Endive salad was my number 1 favorite dish of the day. The Charcuterie and the sourdough bread , though basic sounding, really was delicious as well. The Executive Chef stopped at our table to see how we liked everything and that was such a pleasant personal touch. We tried both the Chocolate cake and the Panna Cotta and both were amazing as well. Really great experience and will definitley be back. read more

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TLDR: A Michelin restaurant thats worth the hype! I recently had the pleasure of dining at Estela in NYC, and it was an absolute culinary delight! The squid ink risotto stole the show with its crispy texture and burst of flavors. The persimmon salad was incredibly fresh, and the wagyu steak was nothing short of insanely flavorful and delicious. To top off the meal, the chocolate lava cake with black sesame dessert was a revelation! It's hands down the best dessert I've had in NYC, offering insane flavors and depth. The combination of black sesame, oozing lava cake chocolate base, and the perfect cream on top created a dessert masterpiece. read more

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We were able to squeeze in with a last-minute reservation for two. We had the sourdough miche with butter, the scallops with golden potato and brown butter, endive with walnuts, anchovy, and ubriaco rosso, and finally the ricotta dumplings with mushrooms and pecorino sardo. The highlight was the ricotta dumplings. They were light and creamy and it really let the mushrooms shine. I'm not the biggest mushroom fan, and I would say this really changed my perspective on mushrooms. The mushrooms were light and earthy and when paired in flavor with the ricotta, it was reminiscent of a fine rind on a soft cheese. I was also really excited to try the endive, but ultimately this dish packed too big of a punch. It has very strong flavors and textures, but I felt that the bitterness of the endive wasn't balanced with enough sweetness. Even the walnuts were a bit bitter. The sourdough was nothing exceptional, it was more on the sour side, and I think the crust was a bit too bitter as well. The scallops were perfectly tender - nothing negative to say here. Complemented nicely with the sauce. Quite good and I would happily have it again. The servers were attentive. The ambiance feels a little rowdy for fine dining or an intimate setting, it can get quite noisy from the other diners. p.s. not lactose-friendly but with it! - pack your lactaid read more

Food was generally good but I thought on the heavy side because every dish seemingly had cheese incorporated into it. I had high hopes for the ricotta dumplings, based on reviews, but was it was just ok. The endive salad was probably my favorite, however found hair underneath the salad. The restaurant didn't charge for the salad, but did come back and basically shifted the blame saying it wasn't from the kitchen, which didn't leave a good feeling in my mouth. Ambiance is really nice and the server was very attentive (a little less so after I mentioned the hair). read more

I've been searching for a new favorite brunch spot ever since my beloved Maison Premiere stopped doing real brunch (sob). It's harder than you'd think to find a truly unique, creative brunch menu--and no, egg dishes don't even come close to cutting it. So when my Yelp bestie since 2011, Kelsey C., was in town for a visit and picked this spot as our last meal together, I figured it had to be quality. I didn't count on it being the best brunch I've had in NYC since, well, Maison Premiere back when they still did leeks and potatoes. Oh. My. Flippin'. Ganesh. I have a new favorite brunch place!!! Creative? Check. Delicious? Duh. Not generic and egg-based? Yuppers. - Oysters with Yuzu Kosho Mignonette: Pungent and tangy, just how I like my mollusks - Cured Tuna with Black Pil Pil and Ponzu: There are no words to describe the deliciousness of this dish. Seriously. No words. Just cut, spread and eat with bread. Allow your foodgasmic moans to fill the restaurant. This dish. This dish is what all brunch should be. - Endive with Walnuts, Anchovhy and Ubriaco Rosso: Crunchy, zesty and tangy. The kind of refreshing that you crave on a hot summer afternoon. Uevos could never. - Lobster with Wood Ears and Grapes: Perfectly cooked and crunchy. Whoever invented this knows their textures. - Fried Arroz Negro, Squid and Romesco: Crisp where needed, soft where needed, and just the perfect mix of sea brine. - Wagyu Steak with Beets and Belper Knolle: Perfectly seared beef, perfect soft beets, and perfectly crunchy swiss chard. Wins all around. Throw in the friendly, attentive service that never let up--even when they got insanely busy an hour after we arrived--and you have a recipe for brunch perfection. The prices are by no means cheap, but the delectable farm-to-table freshness makes it worth every penny. read more

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