Luthun Excels

I wanted a really good meal. I felt restless and wanted an evening that would pull me fully into itself. I asked AI what Redditors thought was the most delicious meal they had eaten in the past couple of years, and one place came up repeatedly: Luthun. It was in my neighborhood, and I realized I had walked past it without ever going in. I decided to change that and walked over.

Inside, the space was clean and contemporary, with an open kitchen that immediately set the tone. The staff greeted me, took my reservation code, and asked what I wanted to drink. Everything moved easily and with intention. They asked where I was coming from, and the conversation unfolded naturally. When the sommelier joined me, he asked what I liked to drink and listened closely.

I chose to order wine as the meal progressed. I started by asking for high acidity and strong minerality. He brought a wine from Argentina that felt sharp and focused, and it set the pace for the evening.

For the next course, I asked for a skin contact wine. The bottle he selected opened slowly, with a light smokiness and depth that revealed itself over time. It stayed present throughout the course and worked closely with the food.

With the beef, I ordered a medium-bodied red with high acidity. It carried the dish cleanly and completed the arc of the wines. I ordered a digestif at the end, which closed the meal quietly.

The food was consistently excellent. The lightly fried scallops stood out most, cooked precisely and rich in texture. The sauces throughout the meal were balanced and composed, supporting each dish without pulling focus. A frisée salad treated with liquid nitrogen brought a crisp, fleeting texture that added interest to the course.

What stayed with me was the clarity of the experience. The food, the wine, the pacing, and the room all felt guided by a steady point of view. The evening held together from start to finish.

I left feeling settled. I had come in wanting a great meal, and I walked out with the sense that the time had been well spent. It was one of the best meals I have had in New York, and it stayed with me in a quiet, lasting way.