Le Bernardin’s tasting menus and wine pairings continue to be among the city’s most exalted. The lounge is a more accessible place to taste Eric Ripert’s meticulous creations and browse a wine list that features almost 1,000 selections, some of which date to 1875.

From the sommelier: “In general, I’ve noticed a younger generation of diners who are very savvy and interested in wine. They’re seeking out regions like Savoie, new styles from California, grower Champagne, Grüner Veltliner and Austrian reds. We’ve even included saké on our tasting menu pairing. At Le Bernardin, fish is the star, and our sommelier team takes it as a challenge to end the myth that only white wine can be paired with seafood. Those rules are just guidelines and meant to be broken.” –Aldo Sohm