Atera
“But, I loved the pairing – one of the fruitiest white wines from the Loire Valley that I have ever had.”
“Congratulations to Chef Ligthner and the Atera team on a well deserved two Michelin stars.”
“This is not a fancy, shmancy, pinkie out restaurant but a very cool, place with The Who and The Doors piped in over the speakers.”
Atera
Takes Reservations: Yes
Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
Coat Check: Yes
Waiter Service: Yes
Price range.
$$$$ Price range Above $61
8 reviews
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Wow. I don't know where to start about this meal. I guess I should start by saying its not a meal. Its an experience.
I went here with some coworkers this past Thursday. We were looking for a great meal and weren't worried about price. We had considered the typical 11 Madison Park or Daniel, but decided to go for something a little less common and Atera fit the bill.
We arrived about half hour early for our 9:30 seating. We were ushered downstairs for cocktails to a very cool lounge. It was dimly lit with really a really nice bar in the back. We were immediately served a cup of amazing tea, followed by equally fantastic cocktails. Made small talk with the kind bartender.
9:30 came around and we were taken back upstairs to the dining room. One of the coolest rooms I've ever been in at a restaurant. We sat at the U shaped slate counter that surrounds the kitchen, which sits about 12, and there's a table for about 6 at the other end of the room. Its really notable because its a totally open kitchen and you can watch the chefs cook and assemble the plates on the spot. The decor is asian style and really beautiful.
We were told the menu was all taken care of and asked what kind of beverage selection we wanted. We went for the reserve wine pairing.
They started us off with a great champagne based cocktail, then came the meal.
By far the most unique meal I have ever had. Twenty-something courses of small plates, most about 2 bites each. Every one was assembled meticulously and absolutely striking in appearance. Taste is a whole other story. The food was incredible. Just absolutely amazing. So ridiculously fresh and refined its not something that could possibly be explained in words.
Every third dish or so was paired with an outstanding beverage of either wine, beer, or champagne. Each one was explained by the sommelier and they were generous about refilling glasses when they were empty.
I wish I could write all the dishes down but that would be too long of a list.
It took us about 4 hours from start to finish including desert and coffee afterwards.
The total came out to about $1900 for the three of us and it was worth every penny. This was by far one of my best and most unique meals I've ever had in my life. And I like to thing I've had a lot of very notable meals.
The service was impeccable and I will definitely be coming back after their short hiatus while they renovate the restaurant, not that it needs any renovation or could possibly need improvement in any way.
I will post pic of the menu as well.
I am really scared to give a good review for Atera's Lounge because I dont want this place to start getting super crowded but it deserves it!
The bartender, Somm, and staff are super amazing and accomodating. The Somm was patient with us while we asked a million questions about their wine list. He helped us chose the perfect bottle within our budget. We also got a cheese plate to snack on because we had eaten dinner already but wanted a little something. The couple next to us was ordering a bunch of small plates all of which came out looking amazing and were very similar if not the same to what the serve on their tasting menu upstairs. I had read that they had a really great burger in the Lounge but wasn't planning on ordering it before we got there.
After smelling all of their food, and downing a few glasses of wine, we went for dinner #2! We shared one burger and I am kind of pissed that we did because it was OUT OF THIS WORLD AMAZING! Probably one of the best things I have ever eaten, and definitely rivals my previously favorite burger from Gabe Rucker's Le Pigeon in Portland! My mouth is watering as I write this review so I will just stop right now. Email to make a reservation and GO eat this burger you will not be disappointed!
Atera is a New American (with some Scandinavian influences, I believe) restaurant that's one of the more unique dining experiences I've had. They do a pre-fixe only, $235, service included. It's something like 18 courses, but they're reasonably portioned, so don't worry. The only seating option is at the kitchen bar/counter, but the seats do have backs, so it's comfortable. They do have a table behind the counter, but I think that was for larger groups…larger…like 6 or 8. It's a small place…14 around the kitchen bar, I think. They ostensibly have a bar downstairs, but I didn't explore it, and I'm not sure if it's still open, as they've recently had a re-launch.
The chefs prepare the food in front of you, and deliver it to you themselves. It's an interesting experience, and one I really enjoyed. There's not much "cooking" going on, so I wouldn't be too excited to actually see the work that goes into the presentation; most of the work done is plating, which I have to say is pure artistry. It's evident that just about everything is prepped to the hilt, which is to be expected. Dishes are very creative, and use a combination of familiar and unfamiliar ingredients. The ribeye steak with bordelaise sauce was, by far, the best steak dish I've ever eaten.
They are SERIOUS about their coffee and tea services, and I encourage you to try one if you like either of those beverages. They have wine pairings, as well as a "temperance" pairing, and even a tea progression. If you're interested, just ask one of the captains about tea, coffee, or wine…they'll be happy to discuss. I found all the servers to be very knowledgeable, and Atera clearly hires only the best…these folks are professionals.
Service was top-notch, and if I counted right, the ratio of guests to staff was nearly 1:1. An expensive evening, but an experiences that left me wanting for nothing. Highly recommended if you're of the "foodie" persuasion, and like your food a little off the beaten path. I really can find nothing that I disliked, or that I'd change, it was very worthy of both Michelin Starts they have thus earned.
Atera is a countertop dinner like no other. I have been here only once, so I shall resist the temptation to be overly judgemental.
The reservation experience for Atera is a bit frightful. Given the fixed number of seats, they are particular about reminding you of the penalty for late cancellation (price of the dinner). And they appear inflexible about accommodating dietary restrictions, which turns out to not be the case during your visit. They are however quite particular about you arriving on time since late arrivals can put the rest of the diners out of sync with you.
You will likely be seated on one of the dozen high chairs if you are not occupying the lone table on the side. And you will get to watch the cooks at work. It has the feel of having front-row seats in a laboratory, which is only fitting since I suspect equal parts of art, chemistry and culinary creativity go into designing the twenty-course menu at Atera. Molecular gastronomy and all that.
Several months have passed, and I now only remember the yogurt nuts with beets, the sweet potato dish, the banana ice cream, and the butter cake. But I can say that no two dishes were identical or even similar in taste or presentation. And the service was uniformly attentive throughout the meal.
Come to Atera to splurge on a culinary adventure that lasts almost three hours, and would leave you short by at least three hundred dollars a person for dinner and drinks. And if you can afford to go there repeatedly, make sure to take me with you.
First thing I would like to bring out about this place is – wow, this is so alike chef's table at Brooklyn fare! Open kitchen and pots hanging on the wall (just fewer number haha)! Chef was wandering around the room, laughing and chatting with diners. Decoration here was intimating and relaxed.
Back to food, there were many dishes that left me remarkable memories. My favorite one was seared oyster, with meat soft enough that almost melt in my mouth right away! The porridge-like Dungeness crab, on the other hand, has a long-lasting taste. Though not a foie gras person, I have to admit that I love the course and that the flavor was not too overwhelming. Not to mention other dishes that were simple yet delicious (got to try that lamb with garlic). Have to say that Atera has not messed up with even a single course!
One sentence summary: if you have not yet been to chef's table, Atera was definitely as close as you can get to. Probably I should rephrase my words – after all, dining here is more about enjoying a unique experience.
Fantastic meal with great service. Definitely recommend for a nice meal for special occasions.
The service from start to finish is world class, with people ready for every situation, whether it be seeing you in to your seat to giving you a placecloth for your phone to replacing your napkin when needed. In terms of food, each dish was uniquely created and plated with care. Among the dishes I enjoyed the most was the apple cake ball with eel in the inside, the caviar, and the foie gras and peanut butter, covered with a sheet of black currant, but all the dishes were extremely flavorful.
The ambiance is also a lot of fun, with the staff having a good time and taking pictures with the diners. It's definitely a unique (and pricey) meal, but well worth it.
A simply fantastic experience. Dining can't be any better – and Atera speaks to all senses. Of course the food is good. It's much more, it's really outstanding. Especially the savory dishes, which I found to be even more perfect than the desserts. The 19-course tasting menu leaves you longing for more after each plate, starting with the first one. Chef Ronny Emborg brings interesting and unusual flavor combinations, always perfectly in sync, but never overloaded. He lets perfect ingredients speak for themselves. Not a lot of molecular magic either, which I find very pleasant. But the experience doesn't stop with the food. Atera speaks to all senses, and that includes smell (using fragrant towels), tactile (considering the very special tableware and also the table itself) and sound – they have a really cool music selection that makes the evening a real event and not a boring piano music dinner. The atmosphere that they create is amazing. You just feel at home, yet it's classy and perfect. But never too much upscale. All the staff's primary concern is to make you, the guest, happy and comfortable. And they really mean that.
Professional and delicious. The dishes are creative and well executed. While there wasn't a dish that was a home run, there certainly were a lot of doubles and triples. A wonderful meal and evening.