Refined Chinatown dining with complex, artful dishes; praised for its unique menu and
Willa Moore reviews Bridges, a Chinatown restaurant offering elegantly complex food that outshines the scene, with standout dishes like uni custard and comté tart.
This Chinatown gem offers a sophisticated and refined dining experience, with a menu that defies easy categorization but consistently impresses with its originality and complex flavors. Standout dishes like the sea urchin custard with shrimp and the comté tart are frequently praised, alongside expertly prepared duck. The restaurant provides an aesthetic ambiance perfect for dates, though some diners find it to be on the pricier side.
The cuisine is described as American with modern and eclectic influences, often featuring sophisticated and complex flavors. Highly recommended dishes include the sea urchin custard with shrimp, comté tart, and the duck. Some diners found certain dishes, like a lettuce salad, to be less impressive, and one reviewer noted issues with the preparation of sardines and asparagus.
"Standout dishes include the sea urchin custard with shrimp, comté tart, the duck, and the pork chop. The sardine toast and rhubarb dishes are also highly recommended."
Customers largely have a positive view of the restaurant, frequently recommending it for its unique and refined dishes and pleasant atmosphere. However, there are some negative experiences, with one diner finding the food overhyped and expensive, particularly criticizing the sardines and asparagus.
Important Note
One reviewer found the restaurant to be overhyped and expensive, with specific criticisms of certain dishes.
"Bridges is listed as a recommendation, although the commenter notes that it, along with others listed, might not have "modest" prices but offers good food and cocktails."
Neutral"The user noted that Brat from London is doing a dinner at Bridges next week and has heard decent things about other chefs hosted there."
Neutral"Bridges is suggested as an additional place to consider visiting."
Neutral"Bridges used to have insane duck, but it's no longer on the menu."
Neutral"Francie is recommended for its whole duck, and Bridges or Chez Fifi are suggested for duck breast."
Positive"Bridges was suggested as a place with a good vibe."
Positive"The commenter expresses intent to check out Bridges based on the recommendation."
Neutral"The commenter recommends Bridges, describing it as a restaurant that is "like Estela but for 2025," implying it's a modern or superior dining experience."
Positive"The commenter recently had a great solo dining experience at Bridges, sitting at the bar."
Positive"User haribobosses cites the costs at Bridges, specifically $7 for bread and butter and $28 for asparagus, to illustrate the expensive nature of the restaurants typically reviewed by the New York Times."
Negative"This user noted that Bridges, along with Penny and Borgo, are all new restaurants."
Neutral"bridges is included in a list of recommended restaurants for the user's bucket list before leaving NYC."
Positive"Bridges is recommended as a place to try."
Positive"Bridges is recommended as a place to try."
Positive"Bridges is recommended as a place to try before leaving NYC, suggesting a positive general experience."
Positive"The commenter enthusiastically recommends Bridges for its duck, describing it as 'amazing'. This is a strong endorsement for their duck preparation."
Positive"Recommends the uni and shrimp custard at Bridges, a Japanese restaurant."
Positive"User ekuldranoel elaborated on their bad Bridges experience: sardines were hard to eat (thick, raw), asparagus side tasted like dish soap, comte tart and dumplings were unexciting, snapper and duck decent. Overall, overhyped and expensive."
Negative"The user pink3rbellx loved Bridges, stating everything except the dessert was great and it was one of their top 5 meals this year so far."
Positive"The user ekuldranoel despised their meal at Bridges."
Negative
