This review is not meant to defame Le Bernardin but I believe some voices should be heard. With my sincere respect to chef Eric Ripert and his team at Le Bernardin, I booked my lunch reservation at LB for May the 27th and traveled from...Boston. I was first served by an Asian waiter who looks unhappy and a little bit unfamiliar with his job, but I’m fine with it, maybe that’s his personality and maybe he is new. However, when I finished my bread, I stained the tabletop with some bread crumbs and I wish it could be cleaned up as I don’t quite like it. I asked two of the servers but they only expressed that this is done after I finished my main course. I understand that it is how they are trained, but if a guest would like his table to be cleaned, it doesn’t hurt to help him clean it up! Up to this point, I’m also ok, I thought maybe they are just stubborn. BUT! When the main courses were served, I didn’t quite catch how the potato puree is supposed to pair with the fish so I politely asked the same waiter who told me to wait for the clean-up, he seems to be unhappy (though he denied it) and almost THREW the potato bowl into my partner. I thought I was too sensitive, but my partner was also petrified. I was trying not to ruin my birthday so I didn’t say anything during lunchtime. The rest of the lunch experience was good (another team member served me, who was very kind and gentle). I also left an 18% tip, even though I’m not happy at all about what I experienced. I wrote an email to LB after my lunch and I soon received a call from Mr. Tomi Dzelalija, the DM at LB. He kept explaining that he saw the process and thought that was the normal way to serve. I was astonished. I’ve dined at 76 Michelin-starred restaurants in NY and I never received such rudeness and arrogance. I wasn’t exaggerating, because the waiter was literally throwing the bowl, there was a sound when the bowl hit the table, and he was also turning my plate sooo fast. If that was his “normal” way, I would suggest him to not work at such a restaurant, because most guests would be frightened. This Mr. Dzelalija sounded protective and kept saying that it was NORMAL, and he would offer me some treats if I come next time. Well, I won’t try my luck here just for a glass of champagne, I’m not cheap. I’m not some famous person, I’m not a star, I’m not your chef friend, I’m not a businessman who would tip you 50%, but I’m your GUEST, I was being polite, I was wearing a decent suit and act normal, why should I receive worse service. That’s not how a three Michelin star restaurant should be. The day before this, I dined at The Modern, and after LB, I also had my birthday dinner at CTBF. Even the notorious CTBF treated me so kindly and answered a lot of my questions. Thanks to The Modern and CTBF for helping create a better birthday trip that is ruined by LB.More