Hubbell & Hudson Bistro and Cureight

Reviews 3

KR

Kris

I enjoyed CureEight a lot and overall would rate it as a great experience. In particular it felt very personalized. At the end we got a couple of coffee takes to take home and even a card from the chef both of which were nice touches and end to a fabulous meal I had a few criticisms which I hope the chef will take as constructive and not negative. The first is the timing/synchronicity of the sommelier and serves. Almost every course the servers would disrupt the sommelier as he was explaining the pairing and led to, a couple times, the server not being around to explain the course. The explanations on a tasting menu are part of the experience so I think they could improve on that. Secondly the wine pours were INCREDIBLY cheap. I have been to a ton of tastings and this is probably the lest beverage I have seen poured. Now that may be a result of my next criticism which is all about the amount/length. Now I am a fan of sampling as much as possible but I literally had to force myself to eat the last couple courses. The portions were very nice size but simply too many…it became a bit of a slog to work through. So this is perhaps my main comment-the chef needs to self edit. This is generally a good problem to have…I mean it is a treat to get to try so many dishes but if it was up to me I would reduce the price slightly (thereby perhaps making it more accessible to other potential customers) and cut 2 courses. Would be tough but overall I think would provide a superior dining experience. I found the food came quickly and at a good pace. The Sommelier seemed to know his stuff…a few pairings were off but a few were fantastic and memorable. I enjoyed the setting. It was well appointed without being overly pretentious and the tables were spaced far enough apart that had it been full it wouldn’t have felt confining. My wife had a vegetarian tasting and I had the regular. I thought it was pretty cool that when we called to reserve they were able to accommodate her request (with 48 hrs notice). I understand they will be releasing a formal vegetarian menu shortly but for now it is on request basis. I felt very nice they made the effort. I wont go into detail on all the dishes but I would say a few highlights. The langostino dish was amazing-very nice char taste. A 3 way carrot dish was very tasty and imaginative. The Fois Gras was cooked perfect-melt in your mouth. I paid extra for the Wagyu steak which was divine but in my opinion way over priced. 3 little slices for $40 more. The accompanying kimchi was super (but by then I was too full to plow through). My favorite dish was actually a house specialty I’m told and is billed as “oyster and Pearl”…slightly salty perhaps but delicious! The desert was a stand out-a peach “crumble” done multiple ways and without all the cobble but had the taste. Very much enjoyed that. Overall great menu although I discovered I was not a fan of Uni. A couple dishes were perhaps slightly over salted but just barely and not a point to ruin the dish. Overall a great experience and clearly a chef (and team) that is making the attempt (successfully) to go the extra mile and create a great experience. I just hope the drop the price a few dollars and shorten the menu and get a little more generous with the pours. 9/10. I don’t often write reviews but thought this was worth the effort. I will be posting this in a few places to help get the word out.

JE

Jenny Kelley

Hubbell & Hudson’s Bistro is where I call ahead for reservations, dress up, and enjoy a 2+ hour dinner with close family and friends - plus a few bottles of good wine of course! When I’m not in the mood for dinner, I still love to visit the bar on a quiet night during the week for a few cocktails and amazing appetizers. The staff is friendly, very attentive, and the charming bartender mixes up cocktails for thirsty guests walking in. I feel like I’ve almost walked into a James Bond movie - or was that just the theme of their New Year’s Eve Party? Either way - the bistro has an elegance that can enchant a table for two or entertain a party of ten or more. You have an option of cuddling up in an inviting booth, mingling at the bar, staring out the tall windows that stretch the restaurant, or lazily lounging on the patio. I’d first highly recommend letting the bartender concoct you a cocktail... or order a glass (or bottle) from that extensive and impressive wine menu - they do rent out wine lockers, so why wouldn’t they?! To start, snack on the Yuzu Tuna - so tender and perfectly spiced ahi tuna with yuzu-jalapeno sauce, seaweed salad with rose peppercorns. Order any soup and each spoonful will be filled with flavor - as well as any deliciously-described dish on the menu. Salads seem simple but are far from it - so fresh and filled with amazing toppings and tastes. Now onto what they are truly known for - the BEEF! Their steaks are specially dry aged and cooked exactly to your specification - hands down the best steaks I’ve ever had! But if you’d rather not sink into a steak, the roasted sea bass, seared scottish salmon, fettuccini bologna, and other entrees are incredible. Honestly, I’ve chosen another cocktail rather than dessert, but I did very much enjoy the croissant bread pudding with warm apples, spiced bourbon, sea salt caramel and Indonesian cinnamon creme. How could that NOT sound good? I really should order dessert more often. For me, indulging at Hubbell & Hudson’s Bistro is a very special treat for me - I hope you enjoy this rave-worthy restaurant as much as I do!

R

R Anderson

Great concept! Poor execution. The idea is there, definitely. There is very little that comes close to this market when it comes to quality and overall creativity. Originality? No big points there. If you want something different come here. Good food at a good price. If you want something that lives up to the hype, this is not it. The spacing for this market is wrong. You cannot stand anywhere in the market to look at anything because you will feel like you are in the way. Which I assure you...you are. Very little room for people to get by, let alone a hand basket for easier shopping. There are wider spaces in alleys. So anywhere you stand you will be in someone elses way. The meat and the seafood department is awesome. Far better than anything you will find for miles. The bread at the is a hit or miss. Mostly a miss. Ive been here numerous times and it seems like they just cant get their bread right. Either its really pale or really dark. Chewy, most of the time since Im sure the dough is frozen at one point. Or theyre selling old bread since it crumbles when the sandwich bar heats it up. There is a nice selection of wines available. There is also a beer alley in which you are sure to find an old favorite or a new one. The Bistro is usually the main reason people in the area visit Hubbell and Hudson. It is not too different from surrounding restaurants but the menu does offer variety. This too is a hit or miss. The lobster roll is never the same. Tasty idea? Sure. Like pizza rolls are tasty! But it is never consistent. You can come on Monday and try it, like it and invite Mom on Friday. Mom will not enjoy it on Friday because it wont be good then. You really can never tell. Many things fall in the lobster roll category. Sometimes its good, sometimes its not. With a young chef, you can expect inconsistency. Potential? Perhaps. Unrealized? Yes.

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