One If By Land Two If By Sea

I always sort of avoided this place. I've lived here 10yrs and found that institutions like this rely more on their ambience and history as a romantic draw and don't focus on their food as much as I'd like. But I figured I'd give it a shot anyway, and I was instantly and consistently impressed from start to finish. My girlfriend and I tried the buffalo ribeye and gnocchi apps, then the beef wellington and rosemary crusted rabbit. They take some pieces of classic cuisine and really alter them in a new and genuine way, twisting just enough to make it exciting while holding true to the aspects that have made them so prevalent. Our server, (John?), couldn't have been more professional and his service was well-timed and his manner extremely authentic and concientious. He exhibited exactly what I try to instill in my staff ( I've been in this business for years), and it's a rare treat to find a combination of innovation, old-school quality and truly pleasant front-of-the-house demeanor that appeals to young (like me), and old. He definitely "crafted" a great evening for us, and there wasn't a tinge of disappointment throughout, in any area. Perhaps that doesn't sound like a compliment, but it's just about the most valuable sentiment I can give to any restaurant, definitely a great experience and I'll return often.

A superb experience. A truly elegant, relaxed, delicious affair. With so many poor quality establishments at every turn in this city - it's nice to know that some restaurateurs still care to please the customer on every level - food, service, decor, ambiance - these are rare qualities in today's dining out world, which makes One If By Land such a dining delight!

I went here for my fathers birthday and it wasn't at all what i expected. Everything was great except for the food. The bar was well stocked and they can def make some good drinks. The food overall was rather bland. The best part was my 1st course, (mushroom and parm crumble) it was superb if a little rich. My second course was blah (i cant think of any other way to describe it) dessert was the same. The spring veggies had been overcooked so much that they had shrunk to a quarter their size and become brown, the gravy on top of the beef was partially congealed and cold. The beef had no flavor and the pastry around it was a lump of mush. The others had fish which was tender, but again unflavored. My sister tried the foie gras which had more oil on it than all the oil wells in the country. I have had good foie and this was def not it. The sauteed shrimp was overdone. This establishment has withstood the test of time, but its not as good as it was. The crowd was a mixture, but the majority was made of oldies sipping drinks and reminiscing. Overall, One if by Land was blah...

This place is everything it claims to be and more. I've been here a few times and have never had a less than perfect experience. The food is absolutely delicious, my favorite is the monkfish. The desserts are to die for so be sure to leave room! They have an exquisite wine list, however if you're unsure, the waiters are great in making recommendations. The service is impeccable, I took my mother once for her birthday and without any request at all from me our waiter brought a lovely dessert out with "Happy Birthday" around it in chocolate syrup. There is a romantic, relaxing ambiance with fresh flowers everywhere and a garden outside while the pianist plays in the background. If you know the history of the building it adds some extra intrigue. I could go on and on about One if By Land, but it still would not do it justice- you really should just go.

My wife and I revisited the place where I asked her to marry me 15 years ago. You can sense the ambience as soon as you enter. The lighting, decor, fresh roses and music set the romantic mood that you look for in a restaurant but rarely find. The staff were very accomodative by moving us nearer to the courtyard windows on the first floor. The wine selection has recently been modified. Although they did not have the bottle I selected they quickly offered an upgrade blend at no additional charge. The waitstaff is attentive but not overbearing. Their Beef Wellington is the best I've ever tasted. It is a fantastic restaurant that lives up to it's billing and provided us with some more great memories.