A photograph of just one part of artist, Ran Ortner's 24-foot triptych painting, “Deep Water No. 1” , that covers the back wall at Le Bernardin.

LE BERNARDIN

Le Bernardin is New York's internationally acclaimed, three Michelin-starred seafood restaurant, born in Paris in 1972 by sibling duo Maguy and Gilbert Le Coze. An instant success in Paris, the restaurant garnered two coveted Michelin stars, the highest acclaim for a seafood-only restaurant at the time. Le Bernardin insisted on only serving the best fish, carving out a niche in the competitive restaurant world of Paris and establishing an international reputation. Inspired by their triumph in Paris and the restaurant’s many American clients, the Le Cozes opened a Le Bernardin in New York City in 1986.

In no time, Le Bernardin earned four stars from The New York Times three months after its opening. After the unexpected death of her brother Gilbert in 1994, Maguy Le Coze began working closely with chef Eric Ripert, a disciple and close friend of Gilbert, who took over the kitchen, and along with Le Coze continues to uphold Le Bernardin's position as one of the world's premier restaurants.

In September 2011, Eric and Maguy unveiled a significant redesign of Le Bernardin from Bentel & Bentel that earned the restaurant a James Beard Award for “Best Restaurant Design” in 2012. The new look featured the lounge, a first for the restaurant, where a separate menu is available. Two years later the duo decided to open Aldo Sohm Wine Bar, named for their acclaimed wine director Aldo Sohm. Located just steps away from Le Bernardin, the wine bar offers a menu of cheese, charcuterie and shareable dishes paired with Sohm’s curated wine list in a casual, convivial setting. At the same time, they expanded Le Bernardin’s private dining offerings with Le Bernardin Privé, a dynamic space to accommodate a range of large-scale events, including weddings, cocktail receptions and corporate meetings. Nearly 40 years in, Le Bernardin continues to be recognized for its unparalleled excellence in food and service. In January 2023, it received a historic sixth four-star review from The New York Times, distinguishing it as the only restaurant to receive that honor, consistently, since the paper first published in 1851.