Brace yourself for some negativity:
Visited Jungsik NYC this week with partner and another couple. I selected the signature wine pairing for all 4 of us when I made the reservation. The first thing they did when we sat down was ask if we wanted to upgrade to premium pairing. I dislike an immediate sales pitch, BUT we opted to get the premium pairing for my friend and I (the ladies) and keep the signature for our partners to compare the two. They then asked if we wanted any of 3 add-ons: 2 savory and 1 sweet. We declined these and I know it’s commonplace to do some add-ons, but I resent it- just make it a part of the meal if it belongs. I don’t like being put on the spot with a sales pitch immediately upon sitting down. The first 2 courses were paired with the ‘13 Dom Perignon for the premiums and 2 different wines for signatures. I felt that they missed an opportunity there, but it’s also a little tough to complain about 2 servings of dom I suppose? The premium wine pairings were an extra $300 apiece ($200 per person for the signature pairings and $500 per person for the premium) and they were definitely not worth it. They did have “big names”- Dom Perignon, Opus 1, etc and I feel that they leaned too heavily on this kind of “brand name” vibe for the whole meal. Osetra caviar, Wagyu beef 3 TIMES, etc.
If the dishes had been well balanced I would not complain. But the entire meal was basically fancy proteins and creamy, heavy sauces. Almost no vegetables showed up at all, which is absolutely shocking for a Korean fusion restaurant. Korean cuisine does so much with pickled/fermented vegetables, I was excited for that and it was almost totally absent.
The amuse buche was good- it had small, well crafted bites, but they were all protein and cream, including the first appearance of wagyu- in tartar form- so I guess it set the tone for the whole meal. Some of the following courses were Langoustine on a creamy sauce with Osetra caviar on top, then a very large portion of crispy octopus on a spicy aioli, yellowtail sashimi to lay across a rice-filled crispy nori “cigar” (I was grateful for the nori, it was the most significant vegetable presence of the meal), near the end of the meal when we were pretty full, a way-too-large piece a wagyu beef (the 3rd appearance of wagyu) with a small side of cold soba noodles, which felt like an oasis from the heavy proteins and sauces. I actually couldn’t finish this dish because I was so full of protein by that point that the fatty, heavy wagyu was actually a bit nauseating. There were some other dishes not pictured- dumplings that had a large thin slice of raw wagyu on top that had a hot rich oxtail broth poured over to cook it, which was a very tasty dish, but I question what the wagyu actually added besides theatrical affect. Rose wine showed up a couple of times, which I felt was not great. Most of the wine pairings were fine, but didn’t blow me away as I would expect when paying $500 apiece for them, and I felt at times that the signature pairing was better or more interesting than the premium, although not for every dish.
The desserts were good, I enjoyed the “carrot” that was actually a dessert with black tea ice cream and the “walnut” that was actually a dessert. Cute, but I feel this food illusion thing gets overdone, but they were tasty and appropriately sized.
All-in-all I am really surprised that this is a 2* restaurant. I have had MUCH better 1* meals. I paid ~$3400 for 4 people and I would say it was not worth it.
by drunkonmyplan