Saga - Ending on a High Note (Literally)
After nine straight days of eating and drinking my way through New York for Spring Break, it feels only right to start the reviews at the very end--with my final dinner before heading home. And if you're going to close out a trip like that, you might as well do it from the top of Manhattan.
Enter Saga, a two Michelin-star restaurant perched atop 70 Pine Street in the Financial District, just off Wall Street. The setting alone is a mic drop--soaring views of the southern tip of Manhattan that are equal parts breathtaking and mildly vertigo-inducing.
The kitchen is led by Chef Charlie Mitchell, a Detroit native with Southern influences, Eleven Madison Park training, a James Beard Award, and the distinction of being the first Black chef in New York to earn a Michelin star.
The meal itself is an 10+ course tasting menu that leans creative without ever losing control. The wine pairing deserves its own paragraph--it's not just thoughtful, it's playful. Think sake, unexpected bottles, and combinations that make you pause... and then immediately nod in approval. One standout: an NV Cruse sparkling wine with notes of mustard and cornichon, paired with finely cubed potato and Daurenki caviar. On paper? Questionable. On the plate? A brilliant, deconstructed potato salad--a subtle wink to Southern roots. It worked beautifully.
The opening sequence came in a flurry of small bites--cornbread, caviar (again, no complaints), shima aji, and a perfectly executed madai tempura that was hot, crisp, and gone too quickly. The main protein course--venison with king trumpet mushroom and cabbage--was a personal highlight. Minimalist in presentation, but deeply flavorful. Midway through, we stepped out onto the terrace. If you go, don't skip this. It might be the best south-facing view in the city.
Dessert transitions are often an afterthought. Not here. Saga shifts gears with a Moroccan tea ceremony, complete with a dramatic tableside long pour to cool the tea, paired with a kinako alfajor cookie. It's elegant, slightly theatrical, and a perfect reset before the final dessert courses--which were both excellent.
Service struck that ideal balance: polished but relaxed. Our primary guide, Harris, was fantastic, but the experience felt like a true team effort. Over three hours, service remained quickly paced, attentive, friendly, and refreshingly approachable--no stiffness, no ego.
New York is stacked with fine dining options, and I've got plenty more to get through from this trip--but Saga earns a strong recommendation without hesitation. And one more thing--do not skip Overstory upstairs. It's arguably my favorite cocktail bar in the U.S., and the perfect way to cap the night.
Highly recommend.
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