Why bother to order when you can have the chef do it for you? There are few culinary experiences that beat a well-curated tasting menu. These chef-chosen selections offer chefs a way to tell a story while letting diners enjoy five, seven or sometimes even more courses. You have to choose carefully though, as the meals can last upwards of four hours and cost over $100.
Of course, the city's fine-dining establishments offer amazing chef-curated selections, but we're going to look beyond the Per Ses and Eleven Madisons for tasting menus that are equally special, if a bit more off the radar.
Click through the slide show after the jump for our favorites — whether you're heading by for a special occasion or just a splurge, you won't be disappointed.
#9 Recette
Jesse Schenker's tasting menus are some of the best deals in town. Seventy-five dollars gets you five courses and $150 gets you 10, but the sweet spot is the seven-course selection for $100. The elegantly plated New American dishes are as tasty as they are beautiful, and you're likely to come across a flavor or presentation that you haven't tried before. The quality of the fare at this charming West Village spot is on par with some of the town's more famous fine-dining establishments, at less than half the price. Also, if you see something you like on the à la carte list, the servers will try to have it appear during your tasting, if you ask nicely.
#8 Brushstroke
There is magic in the room at this TriBeCa Japanese, and you don't have to drop $150 at stand-along sushi counter Ichimuri to experience it. A standard tasting menu is $85 for about six courses, and will guide you through the restaurant's offerings. If you do go, we suggest spending a little extra for the $135 seasonal kaiseki tasting menus. This selection features roughly eight courses and showcases every type of fare that the restaurant has to offer. Because why choose between a meat course and a fish course if you can have both?
#7 Mas (Farmhouse) / Mas (La Grillade)
39 Downing St. / 28 Seventh Ave. S.
Chef Galen Zamarra is a secret threat in the world of NYC fine dining. His restaurant Mas (Farmhouse) may not get the ink in the press that Daniel or Le Bernardin inspire, but the eatery regularly ranks on our Top Food list. A six-course tasting of the French-inspired fare is $115, and you can expect a constantly rotating selection of dishes like Long Island duck breast with kale and port-glazed beets. Not only is it cheaper than the upper echelon of fine dining, the restaurant itself is less stuffy. Be it a birthday dinner or a third date, you'll feel at home here.
If you feel wary about cracking the $100 mark, the tasting menu at Zamarra's grill-focused Mas (La Grillade) is also a good deal, ringing in at $95 for six wood-fired courses.
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