The Four Horsemen

Delphica Sibyl

The Four Horsemen - finally 😊 My husband and I have been devoted LCD Soundsystem fans for years, so the fact that James Murphy co-founded this place has always made it feel like a small dream waiting to happen. We’d been postponing it for weeks, as life has a way of reshuffling plans, but this time my husband said, 'This is your birthday and that’s it. We’re going.' I agreed ;) The restaurant itself is small, understated, and effortlessly elegant. The interior has that kind of simple chic that feels authentic: warm wood, soft light, no pretense. We didn’t have a reservation but decided to take a chance, and after waiting about thirty minutes, we got a table right after 5:20 pm The menu is tiny, almost minimalist, but every dish feels deeply considered. We weren’t too hungry, so we ordered a few small plates and a bottle of wine, saving room for dessert and hoping for a candle later. And the food… oh, the food. I’m not sure words can do it justice. Every bite was a perfect balance of acid, sweetness, and texture. I’m from wine and vinegar country, so I truly appreciate the taste of acidity and here, I finally found a place in New York that speaks to my palate. Their flavors don’t fade the moment you swallow; they linger, evolve, and make you think. I couldn’t help but notice almost everyone around us was ordering their famous warm bread, it looked absolutely divine. But since I bake my own bread at home and had already had a fresh loaf that morning, we decided to skip it this time. Still, it clearly seemed to be the must of the evening, and I’ll definitely try it on our next visit. The wine list is impressive. We chose a French white that was absolutely balanced, bright, and beautifully alive (and no headache after!). And the desserts… I’m still dreaming about the passionfruit cake, so light, tangy, and joyful. I was especially happy that nobody from the staff sang 'Happy Birthday.' ❤️ As for the staff, 'perfect' doesn’t even begin to describe their service. They have that rare ability to make you feel both taken care of and completely at ease. The atmosphere, the music, the people, the vibe: 10 out of 10, or maybe 100 out of 100. To Be Continued :))

+1

Patrick K

Michelin star wine bar? Yes pls! But people come here for the food. Impossible to snag a resy but worth waiting for a walk in spot at lunch or before dinner service. Vibe cozy and cute. Food was amazing! Small menu but basically every dish was a hit. Also the wine selection was well curated. Verdict: recommend and will return!!

+5

AC Slater

Can't wait to return. Everything was incredible, especially the oeuf mayonnaise- which is forever engrained in my memory as one of my favorite bites anywhere. Queued up 30 minutes before opening and the line filled up FAST

+1

Jack Bekos

One of my favorite meals in NYC this year. Every dish was a dream. We ordered the oeuf, green tomatoes, fennel salad, tartare, mushroom toast and rainbow trout. Latter two were our favorites. The passion fruit tart dessert was magical. The best part? The wildly inventive wine list that paired perfectly with every bite. Service was great and homey, intimate setting was wonderful. Expensive but worth it for a special occasion.

Absolutely fantastic meal that I will remember for a long time Every dish was great. The flavors and quality of food were memorable bite after bite. It was the best beets and steak tartare that both me and my husband ever eaten The shrimp and seafood rice also exceptional. The service was fast friendly and seamless. Last but not least the dessert was as good as the meal. We are still talking about the restaurant this morning and how good it was. Will we will return if we can manage to be lucky enough to get another reservation!!!

Nomadicus

Four Horsemen feels like stumbling into a very well kept secret that somehow never tries to impress you… and still does. I decided to try getting in without a reservation and luckily they thoughtfully keep bar and window seats available for walk-ins. The best approach is to line up right when the kitchen opens, or wait until the initial 5pm dinner rush tapers off and secure a seat at the bar. The dining room is quietly romantic but a bit snug nonetheless creating a relaxed, understated atmosphere. Service is genuinely warm and technically precise without a hint of theatrics, striking an ideal balance of professionalism and ease. The menu consists of tapas-style plates that are intentionally restrained. With minimal ingredients and thoughtful execution, each dish allows the quality of the product to shine rather than relying on excess or embellishment. The result is food that feels confident, focused, and deeply satisfying. Four Horsemen is refined without feeling formal, and thoughtful without being precious, making it a place worth the effort, even on short notice.

+5

Jack Maguire

This spot delivers thoughtful cooking with moments of brilliance, even if consistency is not perfect. The bread is excellent, and the crudo was bright and well executed. The oeuf mayonnaise with squid ink and caviar felt disjointed rather than inventive. The fennel salad refreshed the palate nicely. The little gem salad lacked creativity. The beet dish stood out, made richer and more layered by brown butter. Meat courses were handled with care. The tartare had bold yet balanced flavor. The sirloin came perfectly cooked with a flavorful sauce, though the anchovy butter felt unnecessary. Seafood ranged from forgettable to impressive. The halibut did not stand out, while the Boston mackerel was full of character with a great fry. The uni risotto was the most refined dish of the night. The mushroom crostini had depth, although the bread was too firm. Desserts were excellent. Worth a visit, especially for those who like to explore a variety of plates.

+4

brandi brady

I really enjoyed every bite and the service was great! the server had lots of great suggestions on food & pairings. we were a party of 4, walk in. for me, it makes it extra special when you stand in line for a seat & secure it in the first seatings. the hiramasa & green tomatoes are my fav, the glazed beetroot & mushroom toast were great. the mackerel was good, it didn’t knock my socks off the way everything else did. looking forward to when I can get over there for lunch!

Lili McFarlane

Not a single miss. Everything was standout, flavors are thought provoking. For 2 people we shared the mushroom toast, fennel salad, bread, hiramasa, pork collar, and halibut. Toffee pudding for dessert. Portions are smaller but with this order we left full. Service was excellent especially for recommending wine.

Yes, it is hard to get in. But once you are in, good lord it is great. First off, you are made to feel like you are a regular at a neighborhood eatery. Then every course is perfect and beautiful. The suggested wines were outstanding and unique. The bartender, Sam, obviously enjoyed talking to me about the pairings even though I was a stranger. Sure didn't feel like one!

+3

Lives up to the hype and then some. Continues to be one of the best dining experiences in NYC and the country. Every dish hits, every wine is delicious, and the service is top notch. Worth the effort to walk in or snag a reservation.

+6

Millie Shi

Sublime. We ordered every dish on the menu except the clams and it was consistently excellent across very single dish - I don’t remember the last time I had a meal like that, because most restaurants have clear stars in their menus and then other dishes are just ok, but here everything was a banger. Favorites - scallop and leek custard, egg and blue crab, wagyu crostini, and the panna cotta (I don’t even like panna cotta and yet this was one of the best desserts I’ve ever had). Can’t wait to come back for dinner or in another season!

+6

Justin Godbout

Bravo. I’ve determined that this would officially be my last meal. Everything was perfect. The restaurant itself is super cosy. The service was excellent, relaxed. The food was interesting and flavourful. We tried a number of fun wines that paired well our food. My only complaint is how hard it was to get a reservation 😆

+6

Joshua Fields

An excellent operation with a chill vibe and a creative menu, taking amazing meals up a notch in unique ways. The Tartare Crostini is well formed and very flavorful, the salad’s cream and seasonings took some mixing up to get used to but that was good. Brown butter Crab with bread was great, and my two favorite starters the Grilled Octopus and the Seafood Rice. The octopus had perfect char and a sweet delicious taste paired great with the egg. The Seafood Rice was a great blend of fish stocked rice and cold fish as a topping. Then the Pork Collar, I loved this it’s a perfect preparation. Great portion with a beautiful seasoned top layer and a wonderful fatty center. We didn’t care much for the side, which for a dish this pricey you’d like solid side as a base but this gets a pass. Lastly to finish off the Panna Cotta was straight up great, safest dessert option.

+3

Khoi Pham

Interestingly enough, my personal favorites were the smaller dishes rather than the larger ones. Notably, the oeuf mayonnaise and the warm house bread (the butter especially) were great. Otherwise, everything else was fine although nothing too particularly memorable. The staff is very attentive and helpful. The vibes are lively but also serene, which I like.

+5

Meredith Oliver

I enjoyed Four Horsemen, but it didn't blow my mind for the price. If I went again, I'd stick to the small plates so I could try more things. The chicken was good, but not great and it was huge. Their menu changes on a regular basis, so you can't be sure what you're going to get. Nothing I had was bad. Wagyu crostini and harimasa (not pictured) were my favorites. I arrived at 10:45am, and waited for them to open at 11. A line formed quickly, and it's a slow process for them to seat everyone in their tiny space. If you can't get a reservation, show up as early as you can.

+1

Some dishes were fantastic while others weren’t. The summer squash was drowning in Beurre Blanc and rather gross. The fried crab was soggy. The pork shoulder was delicious. The service was overall good but slow. Their wine selection is one of my favorite things about the experiences. Overall I found the four horsemen to be mid for this type of restaurant and expectation.

This was my third visit to The Four Horsemen since June 2024, and sadly, it was a sharp departure from the consistently excellent experiences I’ve had in the past. The quality of the food has noticeably declined. They no longer serve the signature seared yellowfin tuna. The skewer was aggressively spicy, overwhelming rather than enhancing the flavor. The Gen clam dish came across as bland. The swordfish was dry and overcooked. Even the egg appetizer that people rave about felt uninspired. Equally disappointing was the service behind the bar. The bartenders were visibly drinking while serving us, and one even spat into the sink right in front of us while we were eating. That kind of disregard for basic professionalism and hygiene. It’s disheartening to see such a reputable place slip so far in both culinary quality and hospitality. I hope this was an off night, but given the steep drop in standards, I’m hesitant to return anytime

+1

Sally Nguyen

This restaurant is overrated, and I honestly don’t understand how it has held a Michelin star for several years. It’s definitely not worth the price. The portions are tiny, the flavors were either far too salty or overly acidic. Despite spending over $200 for just five dishes for 3 people , none of us left feeling satisfied. On top of that, getting a reservation here is unnecessarily difficult. For the same price, we had a much better experience at Theodora, which doesn’t even have a Michelin star but served food that was both delicious and filling. Save your time and money—skip this place and go somewhere else.

+3

Noe Amighini

The experience was bad from the start, when they seated us at a bar facing the street next to the entrance door, which opened every two minutes and froze us. There were four empty seats at the other bar, and we asked to change, but they said no, that they were busy, even though no one was sitting there. On the other hand, the food is scarce and not very tasty for what they charge, especially for a restaurant that is supposedly recommended by Michelin. We ordered rice with seafood, and it was almost impossible to find. For starters, we had mayonnaise eggs that were cold!!! They didn't warn us, they were tiny, not incredible and the price was extremely high. In conclusion, if you want to eat ordinary food, meager portions, nothing particularly sophisticated in terms of flavor, and pay a fortune... this is the place! Oh, the bread was very good!