Reverence- ReverenceFineFoods

A most magical experience. We’ve been here multiple times. Chef Russell makes you feel like family. The food is absolutely delicious. The flavor profiles are insane, like nothing we’ve ever experienced. Definitely take the splurge, you won’t regret it.

A fantastic experience. It's a small intimate dining room with seating that affords a view of the kitchen. The chef prepares the meal before you and personally explains each dish as well as chatting about the idea behind the restaurant, the food, and generally being an excellent, interesting host.

We were full by the end of the night and did choose the fish add-on and wine pairing. The chef's choices were impeccable. As mentioned in other reviews, the restaurant is very focused on local, sustainable, and upcycling, the latter of which particularly means quite a bit of fermentation of various dishes or parts of dishes.

Highly recommended as a true foodie experience. I can't imagine you'll be disappointed.

Vegetarian options: It's a prix fixe menu, but you have to ask for animal based protein if you want it. Otherwise, the dishes are almost all (and maybe all) vegetarian.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Fish

Reverence offers a unique and delicious tasting menu, for anyone looking to try something truly different. The chef experiments with year-long fermentation techniques and the results are simply amazing! We will definitely be back!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Fish

We had our second meal at this amazing restaurant and I will confidently say that Reverence offers perhaps the most unique and delicious food in NYC. This is where you go when you don’t want another omakase and you do want to try something new, different, and oh so tasty! My knowledge of cooking and fermentation techniques simply won’t do the experience justice. Reverence asks its patrons to try something off the beaten path and those looking for a new experience will be glad they came. I know I’m going back!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Fish

The food was amazing, unique, and the chef was a blast. It's focused on upcycling as much as possible, they do a ton of fermentation, but the preparations are flavorful and complex. I had the fish add-on, which happened to be sea bass, and it was outstanding. It ended up being too much food, but they will happily pack up any morsel you can't finish.

The chef shares interesting background about the good and their efforts to reduce as much as possible. Sitting at the restaurant is exciting, like watching jars at a science museum, only that everything is alive and edible (I'm talking about fermentation jars, not Halloween props 😄).

Reverence has been on my list for so long and I finally made it. The experience was fantastic and the subway ride wasn't long at all. I'm definitely going back to see what else the chef can concoct.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Fish

The most delightful experience I’ve had at a restaurant in memory. Cannot recommend this enough.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Excellent detail to attention, exceptional food experience!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

One of the greatest intimate dining experiences in New York. Don’t let the location fool you - as worth the visit as anywhere. Unique flavors sublimely combined and delightfully presented.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Our go-to restaurant in Manhattan for special occasions! Personal interaction with an enthusiastic chef of the highest order, and incredible, seasonal vegetable forward food. Hands down, a must-visit!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Rotisserie Chicken

This is one of the most impressive restaurants in the city. Every time we go is a different experience depending on the season and Chef Russel's creativity. It is such a cool experience that I highly recommend to everyone

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

What a tremendous experience! This is truly fine dining at its best. Easily comparable in food taste, quality, and creativity at Blue Hill, Le Bernadin, Daniel, and other Michelin rated Restuarants!

The food: Delicious, filling and crazily, nutritious too. There was a heavy emphasis on vegetables, and lean proteins - I actually felt healthier when we walked out than when I walked in!

The flavors were incredible. Each dish was punctuated with bright acidic, well balanced flavors, with an emphasis on pickled foods, thanks to some Bulgarian influence.

The meal started with pickled vegetables (mushrooms, snap peas, etc), followed by a 3 part dish of 1) multiple varieties of cucumbers each with its own distinct flavor, 2) burrata and 3) Texas toast with different types of tomatoes (pickled and not). We then moved to a lasagna-like dish with multiple layers of vegetables and mushrooms that was rich and delicious. This was followed by a hearty barley risotto, then a spicy pozole, and the meal was completed with adobo chicken and corn chawanmushi. The bread was something out of this world - dense but soft and spongy with the crispiest of crusts. Dessert was a delicious chocolate tarte. The wine pairings were amazing. We left with our stomachs full, our hearts lighter, and souls …

Everything is sourced from small farms - Chef Russell makes it a point to get to know the farmers and fisherman and observe their processes. The kitchen is fully open - the process of preparing the food is completely visible which is really neat. Everything is so clean. The pickling process is done completely in-house: there are jars all over the restaurant in differing stages of fermentation. And this is a minimal waste restaurant, just 3-5%. Chef Jackson is creative in reducing waste without compromising the quality and taste of his dishes.

The atmosphere is super cool - rock music in the background and everyone seated at a big, square communal table with chef/preparation in the middle.

Service: you’re served directly by Chef! Couldn’t get any better!

It’s spectacular that such a fantastic fine dining restaurant is accessible in Harlem. I recommend going there without reservation.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Hands down, it doesn’t get better than this place and Chef Jackson’s culinary excellence. You must go if you haven’t been. Reverence is an experience.

Thank you, Chef Jackson and the Reverence team for an amazing evening!

Till next time!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Unlike any other fine dining experience I've ever had. Chef serves up the food for you and comes to your table to talk about it. Highly recommend. Interesting, fun, and affordable.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

If 10 stars were possible that’s what Reverence deserves. Reference surpassed all my culinary expectations! From the moment I walked in, I was greeted with warmth and sophistication. The ambiance set the perfect tone for an unforgettable dining journey. Each dish was a masterpiece, bursting with flavor and artistry. The chef’s attention to detail and use of fresh, locally sourced ingredients truly shined through. The staff was knowledgeable, attentive, and added to the overall exceptional experience. I highly recommend Reference to anyone seeking a truly remarkable dining experience in the heart of the city.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Absolutely fabulous! Highly recommendedThe chef is amazing, we learned a lot about is food and techniques.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5