I was searching for excellence in New York City, so I thought, why not shoot for the top with Eleven Madison Park, a restaurant with three Michelin stars rated the best in North America. Living in Latin America during my thirties introduced me to tasting menus and a few of the world's best restaurants. In 2014, I became curious about how meals in Medellin, Lima, and Mexico City compared to those at a fine-dining restaurant in New York City.
Three years later, Eleven Madison Park was recognized as the best restaurant in the world. Swiss executive chef Daniel Humm began working at Eleven Madison Park in 2006, and in 2017, he bought the restaurant with his business partner, Will Guidara. This is the same duo behind the NoMad bar. Chef Humm's menus use seasonal ingredients from local farmers in New York, and as you'll see, this sense of place was reflected in the meal.
My August 2014 trip coincided with my brother's birthday, so a few of our friends and I took him to celebrate. I was very excited about the meal. Upon arrival, however, I realized I hadn't brought a pen or paper to take notes. The sommelier Caleb was kind enough to lend me his silver pen (upon which his name was engraved) and a piece of Eleven Madison Park notepaper. I held onto these scribblings, knowing I wanted to write about the meal at some point, though I did not expect it to take six years.
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Tasting Menu at Eleven Madison Park
In choosing our menu for the night, we were presented with four themes, including strawberry, cherry, and coffee. I chose coffee, plus the wine pairing. These photos were from the 12-course tasting menu on August 27, 2014.
The caviar course was served with two sauces, both of which I liked. The serving spoon was made of mother of pearl, an attractive and inert material that doesn't react with the caviar as metal would (thereby affecting its flavor).
After the cucumber course, we were served a tasty tea with lemon and thyme.
The delicately arranged tomatoes and strawberries were one of the prettiest courses.
My NYC deli course was served with a bottle of coffee-flavored soda.
The foie gras was incredibly rich—the best I'd ever had. I think I say that every time. So good.
The sunflower was my least favorite dish of the meal thus far.
The picnic-inspired course included a raspberry spicy mustard sauce, fresh cheese, pretzel, green tomatoes, and a pale wheat ale from Ithaca Beer Co. The plates in the basket were designed to look like paper plates. I loved this course's surprise presentation, evoking pictures of picnics in Central Park. Dessert followed. I enjoyed both dessert wines served, which surprised me as I often find them too sweet.
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The tabletop grilling of the apricots in our last dessert offered a playful finale to an excellent dinner. We were presented with a few small snacks, including chocolate-covered pretzels with sea salt and little black-and-white cookies with caramel filling. Plus, we tasted Laird's Apple Brandy, produced by Laird & Company, the oldest distillery in the United States (dating back over 200 years). I ended my coffee-themed dinner with a cappuccino. We were also provided gift bags with granola in mason jars.
Our dinner at Eleven Madison Park lasted three and a half hours (6 to 9:30 p.m.). The service was world-class throughout the experience. Special thanks to Liz, our lead server, and Caleb, the Advanced Sommelier, who told us the stories behind every alcoholic beverage (and kindly lent me his pen).
Cost
The tasting menu in 2014 cost about $250 per person, plus $155 for the wine pairings. We paid about $500 per person, including a glass of champagne at the start, coffee at the end, tax, and tip. This dinner was (and remains) the most expensive meal I've ever paid for; however, it was worth it as it gave me a frame of reference for future fine dining experiences.
Plan Your Visit
Note: Due to the pandemic, Eleven Madison Park closed on March 16, 2020, and began functioning as a commissary, preparing 3,000 meals daily for frontline workers. The experience led Humm to reflect on his work, which focused on high-end clientele and sustainability. Citing the latter, he re-opened Eleven Madison Park on June 10, 2021, with a new menu that's 100% vegan food, a first for any three-star Michelin restaurant. Read a restaurant review by The New York Times.
Website: elevenmadisonpark.com
Address: 11 Madison Avenue, New York, NY
Cost: $335 per person for a plant-based dining room tasting menu with eight to ten courses. $195 per person for a plant-based tasting menu with six courses at a table in the bar area. Gratuity is optional.
Reservations: Highly recommended unless you arrive early to sit at the bar. Make a reservation on Resy.
